Production Politics and Migrant Labour Regimes: Guest Workers in Asia and the Gulf: 2016 (Critical Studies of the Asia-Pacific)

This book emphasizes the importance of production politics, or struggles in the workplace between workers and their employers, for understanding migrant labour regimes in Asia and the Gulf. Drawing from a study of Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore, as well as on comparative material in the region, Bal shows that migrant labour politics are significantly influenced by the specific form of production politics as well as their variable outcomes. In contrast to contentious politics approaches, this book sheds light on the extent to which migrant labour regimes can be contested by workers and civil society groups and explains the recent rise in migrant labour unrest in the region. "Dedication"--"Acknowledgements"--"Copyright Acknowledgements" -- "Contents" -- "List of Abbreviations" -- "List of Figures" -- "List of Tables" -- "chapter 1: Production Politics and Migrant Labour Regimes" -- "Approach: The Centrality of Production Politics" -- "Navigation Guide" -- "Notes" -- "Bibliography" -- "chapter 2: The Political Economy of Singaporeâ#x80;#x99;s Migrant Labour Regime: State Policies and Contractor Strategies" -- "Singaporeâ#x80;#x99;s Migrant Worker Policy" -- "Regulating the Demand for Imported Labour: The Levy System" -- "The Construction Industry in Singapore" -- "Initial Contractor Responses (1987â#x80;#x93;1998)" -- "EFMA Regulations" -- "Cost Pressures and Contractor Perspectives" -- "Contractor Strategies: Wage Theft" -- "Salary Deductions" -- "Withholding of Wages" -- "â#x80;#x98;Kickbacksâ#x80;#x99;" -- "Indirect Pressures on Wages" -- "Migrant Worker Powerlessness" -- "Concluding Remarks" -- "Notes" -- "Bibliography" -- "chapter 3: Temporary Bangladeshi Labour Emigrants to Singapore" -- "Bangladeshi Temporary Labour Migration to Singapore" -- "Class-Status Configurations in Rural Bangladesh and the Problems of Modhom Lok" -- "Class-Status Configurations in Rural Bangladesh" -- "The Problems of Being Modhom" -- "â#x80;#x98;Making a Lifeâ#x80;#x99;" -- "Social and Moral Expectations of Migration: Rural Images of Bidesh" -- "The Recruitment Process" -- "Powerlessness in Recruitment" -- "What Is at Stake: Various Outcomes of Migration" -- "Concluding Remarks" -- "Notes" -- "Bibliography" -- "chapter 4: Constituting Tactical Obedience in the Workplace" -- "Work Arrangements, Control and Command" -- "Forms of Supervision" -- " Constant Supervision" -- " Periodic/Punctuated Supervision" -- " Autonomous Work Detachments" -- " Workshop Deployments" -- " Owner-Operator" -- "Wage Theft as â#x80;#x98;Company Rulesâ#x80;#x99;" Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Production Politics and Migrant Labour Regimes....Pages 1-18 The Political Economy of Singapore’s Migrant Labour Regime: State Policies and Contractor Strategies....Pages 19-48 Temporary Bangladeshi Labour Emigrants to Singapore....Pages 49-77 Constituting Tactical Obedience in the Workplace....Pages 79-110 Labour Conflict and the Restoration of Obedience at EW Construction....Pages 111-139 Intimidation, Violence and the Compulsions of Desertion....Pages 141-170 Production Politics and Migrant Labour Advocacy....Pages 171-206 Contesting Migrant Labour Regimes: The State of Migrant Labour Politics in Asia and the Gulf....Pages 207-232 Conclusion....Pages 233-243 Back Matter....Pages 245-250 This book emphasizes the importance of production politics, or struggles in the workplace between workers and their employers, for understanding migrant labour regimes in Asia and the Gulf. Drawing from a study of Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore, as well as on comparative material in the region, it shows that migrant labour politics are significantly influenced by the specific form of production politics as well as their variable outcomes. In contrast to contentious politics approaches, this book sheds light on the extent to which migrant labour regimes can be contested by workers and civil society groups and explains the recent rise in migrant labour unrest in the region