Development, Globalization and Decent Work: An Emerging Southern Labour Paradigm

This paper identifies a new labour paradigm emerging in the Global South that does not see decent work as an obstacle or add-on to development , but instead attempts to integrate decent work into an alternative developmental path.

Seminar summary

Work , I suggest, is the missing link in the current discourse on development ; none of the dominant theories on globalization integrate the struggle for decent work into their development trajectories. Indeed all three dominant theories of globalisation – neo-classical liberalism, the social reformist or anti-capitalist/ autonomist theories that underpin the current anti-globalization movement, and development statism – treat the struggle for decent work as either an obstacle or an add-on.

The global transformation in the nature of work is analyzed and the concept of a decent work deficit logic introduced. The emergence of innovative labour responses to the decent work deficit in developing countries is described. A framework for the progressive realisation of decent work is developed. The paper concludes by arguing that no great social advances are achieved without the backing of powerful social movements in combination with state capacity. Without these two forces working is some sort of a combination , the goal of decent work will remain elusive.

Seminar chair:
Karin Astrid Siegmann

Seminar discussant:
Freek Schiphorst

Further info:

Tanya Kingdon (kingdon@remove-this.iss.nl)