The Governance of Forced Labour in the Global Economy

Abstract

Abstract:The problem of forced labour in the contemporary global economy is attracting increasing attention in global governance debates and policy circles. The effectiveness of governance initiatives depends on underlying understandings of the root causes of the problem. We explore how the root causes of forced labour in global production networks (GPNs) are framed in global governance debates. Focusing on the dominant frameworks mobilized by international institutions, with some attention to cognate national-level and corporate governance strategies, we identify the limitations of dominant interpretations, which derive from their 'residual' character and their associated neglect of the manner in which the roots of forced labour reach deeply into the organization of GPNs, the forms of exploitation which are integral to them, and the connections between exploitation and poverty. We set out an alternative, 'relational' perspective on the roots of forced labour in GPNs, based on the concept of 'adverse incorporation', and consider the implications of the insights generated by this perspective for contemporary governance frameworks.

Governing Global Supply Chain Sustainability through the Ethical Audit Regime

“…As part of the shift over the past three decades toward the privatization of regulation and global governance (Büthe & Mattli, 2013;Cutler, 2012;Phillips & Mieres, 2015), non-state business actors have taken on roles as regulators, setting and enforcing standards in supply chains. Corporations have sought power and authority to make their own rules, and with this have implemented private supply chain governance mechanisms-including multistakeholder initiatives (MSI), standards, certifications, and codes of conduct-which purport to manage and solve environmental and social problems.…”

Labour in Global Production: Reflections on Coxian Insights in a World of Global Value Chains

“…The tripartite structure remains a potential advantage for governance, but the agenda is continually defined by the politics of mediating those tripartite interests, and particularly the powerful corporate/state nexus. To this extent, the ILO struggles still to achieve critical force in much of its agenda, where the big questions of capitalism and globalization remain politically sensitive issues which are often skirted, and the question of the power relations in global production which produce systemic exploitation is left often untouched (Lerche, 2007;Phillips & Mieres, 2014;Rogaly, 2008;Selwyn, 2013). The ILO has come latterly to embrace the GVC concept along with other international organizations, in its case using the language of global supply chains.…”

New Zealand's turbulent waters: the use of forced labour in the fishing industry

“…Excessive recruitment fees, loans or travel expenses (sometimes inflated), or the manning agent charging high interest and exchange rates can create debt bondage. In turn, debt bondage can constitute 'workers' subsequent unfreedom' (Barrientos et al : 1040; see also Phillips and Mieres 2015). By its very nature, the location of the work, which is at sea and often isolated for months on end, puts fishermen in a precarious position.…”

“…Furthermore, some national laws fail to recognize forced labour or, in particular, the trafficking of men (Yun 2011). There is uncertainty about what actually constitutes a 'pure' case of forced labour (Skeldon 2011) and a general reluctance to see the phenomenon as systemic (Phillips and Mieres 2015).…”

“…The context of the © 2015 The Author(s) industry is an important consideration. Trafficking tends to occur where demand for labour is high and regulatory frameworks governing labour are weak (Crane 2013); it is most often associated with labour-intensive industries such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and fisheries (Bakirci 2009;Belser 2005;Kara 2011;UNODC 2011), particularly industries incorporated into GPNs (Phillips and Mieres 2015). Crane (2013: 54) notes that 'primary industries that have become uncompetitive because of low market prices and high costs with existing technologies might perceive the necessity of coerced labor brought as close as possible to zero cost to survive'.…”