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Date Added to
Site: 25th July 2006 |
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Short Summary
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| Title |
Power in Global Value Chains: Implications for
Employment and Livelihoods in the Cashew Nut Industry in India, Summary
Report |
| Author |
Harilal, K.N.; Kanji, N.; Jeyaranjan, J.; Eapen,
M.; Swaminathan, P. |
| Publication
Date |
March 2006 |
| Publisher |
International Institute for Environment and Development
(IIED) |
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Short Summary |
Employers take advantage of women's cheaper labour
to lower their costs, and while employment in particular for women
workers is essential for survival, it still does not pay enough to
raise households out of poverty. This report explores the impacts
of an expanding cashew nut market on the livelihoods of women workers
in India. It is based on fieldwork in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in south
India, and on interviews with cashew importers, roasters, salters
and retailers in the UK. The paper argues that national level action
to improve labour standards should not restrict the livelihood opportunities
of the poorest workers by raising labour costs to a point where competitiveness
is reduced, and jobs may be lost. Increasing informal work creates
insecure and hazardous working conditions yet implementation of labour
standards can cause jobs to be lost. They only help workers if they
are accompanied by policies which compel lead firms in the North to
address the impact of their purchasing practices on these standards.
Otherwise, the costs of meeting such standards will be placed on firms
less able to bear them - which could result in loss of workers' job
or the deterioration of firms. |
| Summary Source |
Summary adapted from resource and ELDIS |
| Complete Document |
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PDF (Portable Document Format) |
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