Loading...
ENFORCEMENT AND PRACTICE OF LABOUR STANDARDS IN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES: A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY AT COCHIN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE
In the post liberalisation era, with the objective of becoming export-friendly, India expanded the scale of operation of its export ventures by establishing Special Economic Zones. In order to enhance export competitiveness in the international market, the units in the zones resorted to cost cutting...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Printed Book |
| Published: |
AJRBEM: ASIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN BUSINESS ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
2012
|
| Online Access: | http://10.26.1.76/ks/006009.pdf |
| Summary: | In the post liberalisation era, with the objective of becoming export-friendly, India
expanded the scale of operation of its export ventures by establishing Special
Economic Zones. In order to enhance export competitiveness in the international
market, the units in the zones resorted to cost cutting devices. The burden of this was
borne by the labourers in the form of lower wages, violation of workers’ rights,
compulsory overtime, job insecurity, poor working conditions, use of pressure tactics
to meet deadlines, etc. In this context, the study analysed the working conditions in
Cochin special Economic Zone situated in a highly organised society like Kerala. To
evaluate working conditions among skilled workforce, data was collected from
capital intensive electronics sector. Data from labour intensive food processing and
textile sectors were collected to assess the working conditions among relatively less-
skilled workers especially women. Suitable diagrams and simple statistical tools
were used to analyse the data. The results confirmed that labour standards were not
properly observed in all the three units, though the electronics sector was
comparatively better off in protecting workers interests. The units in the zone
preferred to employ young workers, who are mostly females and also unskilled, who
could work hard for the firm. Wage discrimination on the basis of gender, skill
acquired and nature of employment existed. However, they received social security
benefits and allowances like PF, Gratuity etc. The working environment, attitude and
approachability of the management were also reported to be satisfactory. The study also proved that enrollment in trade union was a necessity for the proper provision
of working conditions by the management. |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | Volume 2, Issue 5 (May, 2012) |