ASIAN INFORMAL WORKERS: PROTECTING WORKERS IN A NEW ERA OF CAPITALISM (Routledge Studies in the Growth Economies of Asia)

This thoroughly researched volume surveys the nature and extent of 'informal' work in Asia, which is a powerful and under-studied force in the region. After over half a century of development, even in the fast growing economies of Asia, the formal sector, and industrial jobs have grown rather slowly, and most non-agricultural employment growth has occurred in the informal economy. At the same time as this, there has been a feminization of informal workers and growth in subcontracted homework. Drawing on detailed case studies carried out in five Asian countries - two low income (India and Pakistan) and three middle income (Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines) – where subcontracted production, usually by women and children working out of home, is now widespread, this insightful book acknowledges that home-based work is the source of income diversification for poor families, but is also the source of exploitation of vulnerable workers and child labour as firms attempt to contain costs. This wide-ranging and accessible survey, edited by key specialists in this field, along with an impressive team of contributors, examines the social protection needs of these workers arguing convincingly for public action to promote such work and protect these workers as a possible new labour intensive growth strategy in developing countries. This Book Draws On Surveys Carried Out In Five Asian Countries - Two Low-income (india And Pakistan) And Three Middle-income (indonesia, Thailand And The Philippines) - Where Subcontracted Production, Usually By Women And Children Working Out Of Home, Is Now Widespread. Home-based Work Is The Source Of Income Diversification For Poor Families, But Is Also The Source Of Exploitation Of Vulnerable Workers And Child Labour As Firms Attempt To Contain Costs. This Book Examines The Social Protection Needs Of These Workers, And Argues For Public Action To Promote Such Work And Protect Such Workers As A Possible New Labour-intensive Growth Strategy In Developing Countries.--jacket. Preface And Acknowledgementscontents -- List Of Maps, Figures And Tables -- Part I -- A Cross-country Analysis Of Industrial Outwork In Asia -- 1. The Empirical Context And A Theoretical Framework -- 2. Research Methodology -- 3. Subcontracting And Homework In The Value Chain -- 4. Homeworkers -- 5. Child Labour In Homeworkpart Ii The Country Studies -- 6. Subcontracted Homework In India: A Case Study Of Three Sectors -- 7. Hazardous Subcontracted Homework In Pakistan -- 8. Women And Children Homeworkers In Indonesia -- 9. Subcontracted Homework By Women And Children In The Philippines 10. Subcontracted Womework In Thailand -- Part Iii Policy Implications -- 11. Upgrading Informal Micro- And Small Enterprises Through Clusters -- Towards A Policy Agenda -- 12. Extending Social Insurance To Informal Wage Workers -- References Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11 And 12. Edited By Santosh Mehrotra And Mario Biggeri. Draws On Surveys Done In India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, And The Philippines. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [453]-467) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Dedication......Page 10 Contents......Page 12 Figures......Page 18 Tables......Page 20 Contributors......Page 26 Preface......Page 30 Acknowledgements......Page 32 Part I: A cross-country analysis of industrial outwork in Asia......Page 34 1 The empirical context and a theoretical framework......Page 36 2 Research methodology......Page 65 3 Subcontracting and homework in the value chain......Page 95 4 Homeworkers......Page 115 5 Child labour in homeworker households......Page 156 Part II: The Country Studies......Page 204 6 Subcontracted homework in India: A case study of three sectors......Page 206 7 Hazardous subcontracted homework in Pakistan......Page 243 8 Women and children homeworkers in Indonesia......Page 283 9 Subcontracted homework by women and children in the Philippines......Page 323 10 Subcontracted homework in Thailand......Page 355 Part III: Policy implications......Page 392 11 Upgrading informal micro- and small enterprises through clusters: Towards a policy agenda......Page 394 12 Extending social insurance to informal wage workers......Page 433 References......Page 486 Index......Page 502 "This book draws on surveys carried out in five Asian countries - two low-income (India and Pakistan) and three middle-income (Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines) - where subcontracted production, usually by women and children working out of home, is now widespread. Home-based work is the source of income diversification for poor families, but is also the source of exploitation of vulnerable workers and child labour as firms attempt to contain costs. This book examines the social protection needs of these workers, and argues for public action to promote such work and protect such workers as a possible new labour-intensive growth strategy in developing countries."--BOOK JACKET