Labour Issues in Export Processing Zones in South Asia

Labour Issues in Export Processing Zones in South Asia
Author: A. S. Oberai
Publisher:
Total Pages: 484
Release: 2001
Genre: Collective bargaining
ISBN:

Export processing zones (EPZs) have become one of the major features of labour markets in South Asia. Foreign investments have become a crucial component in investments within these zones and South Asian governments are increasingly competing with each other in offering generous incentives and privileges to attract investments and entrepreneurs. This paper emphasize that social dialogue will help in promoting not only employment opportunities in the EPZs, but also decent work conditions for all concerned. It also suggest that the foundation for comparative and competitive advantage should be built not on cheap labour but on value addition.

Exports to Jobs

Exports to Jobs
Author: Erhan Artuc
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2019-02-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464812497

South Asia has grown rapidly with significant reductions in poverty, but it has not been able to match the fast-growing working age population, leading to lingering concerns about jobless growth and poor job quality. Could export growth in South Asia result in better labor market outcomes? The answer is yes, according to our study, which rigorously estimates—using a new methodology—the potential impact from higher South Asian exports per worker on wages and employment over a 10-year period. Our study shows the positive side of trade. It finds that increasing exports per worker would result in higher wages—mainly for better-off groups, like more educated workers, males, and more-experienced workers—although less-skilled workers would see the largest reduction in informality. How can the benefits be spread more widely? Our study suggests that scaling up exports in labor-intensive industries could significantly lower informality for groups like rural and less-educated workers in the region. Also, increasing skills, and participation of women and young workers in the labor force could make an even bigger dent in informal employment. The region could achieve these gains by: (i) boosting and connecting exports to people (e.g., removing trade barriers and investment in infrastructure); (ii) eliminating distortions in production (e.g., by more efficient allocation of inputs); and (iii) protecting workers (e.g., by investing in education and skills).

Special Economic Zones

Special Economic Zones
Author: Thomas Farole
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 347
Release: 2011-08-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0821387642

For countries as diverse as China and Mauritius, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been a powerful tool to attract foreign investment, promote export-oriented growth, and generate employment; for many others, the results have been less than encouraging. While the benefits and limitations of zones will no doubt continue to be debated, what is clear is that policymakers are increasingly attracted to them as an instrument of trade, investment, industrial, and spatial policy. Since the mid 1980s, the number of newly-established zones has grown rapidly in almost all regions, with dramatic growth in developing countries. In parallel with this growth and in the evolving context of global trade and investment, zones are also undergoing significant change in both their form and function, with traditional export processing zones (EPZs) increasingly giving way to larger and more flexible SEZ models. This new context will bring significant opportunities for developing countries to take advantage of SEZs, but will also raise new challenges to their successful design and implementation. This volume aims to contribute to a better understanding of the role and practice of SEZs in developing countries, in order to better equip policymakers in making effective decisions in planning and implementing SEZ programs. It covers some of the emerging issues and challenges in SEZs including upgrading, regional integration, WTO compliance, innovation, the environment, and gender issues with practical case examples from SEZ programs in developing countries.

The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development

The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development
Author: Arkebe Oqubay
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 1370
Release: 2020-07-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0192590944

Industrialization supported by industrial hubs has been widely associated with structural transformation and catch-up. But while the direct economic benefits of industrial hubs are significant, their value lies first and foremost in their contribution as incubators of industrialization, production and technological capability, and innovation. The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine the conceptual underpinnings, review empirical evidence of regions and economies, and extract pertinent lessons for policy reasearchers and practitioners on the key drivers of success and failure for industrial hubs. This Handbook illustrates the diverse and complex nature of industrial hubs and shows how they promote industrialization, economic structural transformation, and technological catch-up. It explores the implications of emerging issues and trends such as environmental protection and sustainability, technological advancement, shifts in the global economy, and urbanization.

Stitches to Riches?

Stitches to Riches?
Author: Gladys Lopez-Acevedo
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2016-03-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464808147

South Asia is in the midst of a demographic transition. For the next three decades, the growth of the region’s working age population will far outpace the growth of dependents. Close to one million individuals will enter the workforce every month. This large, economically active population can increase the region’s capacity to save and make crucial investments in physical capital, job training, and technological advancement. But for South Asia to realize these dividends, it must ensure that its working-age population is productively employed. As one of the most prominent labor-intensive industries in developing countries, apparel manufacturing is a prime contender. With around 4.7 million workers in the formal sector and another estimated 20.3 million informally employed (combined with textiles), apparel already constitutes close to 40 percent of manufacturing employment. And given that much of apparel production continues to be labor-intensive, the potential to create more and better jobs is immense. There is a huge window of opportunity now for South Asia, given that China, the dominant producer for the last ten years, has started to cede some ground due to higher wages. But the region faces strong competition from East Asia—with Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam already pulling ahead. Plus the sector suffers from production inefficiencies and policy bottlenecks that have prevented it from achieving its potential. Against this backdrop, this report hopes to inform the debate by measuring the employment gains that the four most populous countries in South Asia—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (hereafter `SAR countries’)—can expect in this new environment of increased competition and scrutiny. Its main message is that it is important for South Asian economies to remove existing impediments and facilitate growth in apparel to capture more production and create more employment as wages rise in China. The successful manufacturers will be those who can supply a wide range of quality products to buyers rapidly and reliably—not just offer low costs.

A Review of the Role and Impact of Export Processing Zones

A Review of the Role and Impact of Export Processing Zones
Author: Dorsati Madani
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 114
Release: 2003
Genre: Globalization
ISBN:

As instruments for encouraging economic development, export processing zones have only limited usefulness. A better policy choice is general liberalization of a country's economy.

Social and Economic Impact of SEZs in India

Social and Economic Impact of SEZs in India
Author: Aradhna Aggarwal
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2012-01-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0199088691

This book provides a comprehensive review of the evolution and performance of SEZs from a historical and comparative perspective by tracing the experiences of SEZs in 23 developing countries, including Korea, Taiwan, and China. Using a framework that integrates the basic tenets of the industrial cluster approach with existing theories, it proposes a set of evaluation criteria for SEZs. Analysing quantitative data provided by the Ministry of Commerce and qualitative evidence based on field surveys conducted during 2004–9, the book assesses the economic contribution in the pre- and post-SEZ Act periods in India. Exploring the impact of SEZs on employment, trade, foreign exchange earnings, government revenue, and technology transfers, it also examines evidence of social effects vis-à-vis land acquisition, human development, regional inequities, and environmental protection. Discussing the impact of internal dynamics and external forces on future prospects of SEZs, it offers constructive suggestions to make policy investor-friendly and successful.

Climatic Hazards in Coastal Bangladesh

Climatic Hazards in Coastal Bangladesh
Author: Bimal Paul
Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2016-09-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128046120

Coastal Hazards in Bangladesh: Non-Structural and Structural Solutions provides a review of the study of Bangladesh's coastal region, an area whose location and physical geography present the prefect microcosm for the study of coastal hazards and for the development of tactics that are applicable to regions around the world. The book presents engineers, scientists, and planners with the necessary tools and planning solutions used to combat coastal vulnerabilities in Bangladesh. Divided into seven chapters, it begins with a critical overview of cyclone and storm surge disasters, focusing on both engineering responses and public preparedness programs to such events. In addition, engineering recommendations are provided for further reduction of their impacts, such as erosion, accretion, and land subsidence, and numerical models are introduced to assess flood induced hazard and risk, flood-induced design loads, and how to intervene in protecting key installations, infrastructures, and communities. - Provides engineers, scientists, and planners with the necessary tools and planning solutions they need to address the coastal vulnerabilities presented by floods, cyclones, and storm surge - Includes engineering recommendations on how to reduce coastal hazards and their impact - Explores the topic of sea level rise and the effect of salt water intrusion on fresh water and the surrounding soil - Examines land uses in the coastal zones, their trend, and their effects on coastal zones