There has been an increasing “informalization” and feminization of the labor force in developing countries over the past few decades. One aspect of this twin phenomena is the growth of sub-contracted homework in manufacturing. Homework has a dual and contradictory character: it can be the source of exploitation of workers, but under some conditions it can foster human development and the emergence of micro-enterprises and promote local development. This paper draws on surveys carried out in two low-income South Asian countries - India and Pakistan - where home work is widespread. It examines the social protection needs of these women workers for human development, and also argues for public action to promote such work as a possible new labor-intensive growth strategy in developing countries.

Can Industrial Outwork Enhance Homeworkers’ Capabilities? Evidence from Clusters in South Asia / S. MEHROTRA; M. BIGGERI. - In: WORLD DEVELOPMENT. - ISSN 0305-750X. - STAMPA. - Vol. 33, No. 10:(2005), pp. 1735-1757. [10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.04.013]

Can Industrial Outwork Enhance Homeworkers’ Capabilities? Evidence from Clusters in South Asia

BIGGERI, MARIO
2005

Abstract

There has been an increasing “informalization” and feminization of the labor force in developing countries over the past few decades. One aspect of this twin phenomena is the growth of sub-contracted homework in manufacturing. Homework has a dual and contradictory character: it can be the source of exploitation of workers, but under some conditions it can foster human development and the emergence of micro-enterprises and promote local development. This paper draws on surveys carried out in two low-income South Asian countries - India and Pakistan - where home work is widespread. It examines the social protection needs of these women workers for human development, and also argues for public action to promote such work as a possible new labor-intensive growth strategy in developing countries.
2005
Vol. 33, No. 10
1735
1757
S. MEHROTRA; M. BIGGERI
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/200477
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