Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors.

Bieler, Andreas; Lee, Chun-Yi

Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. Thumbnail


Authors

CHUN-YI LEE Chun-yi.Lee@nottingham.ac.uk
Associate Professor



Abstract

This article compares the electronics sector in the area of Shenzhen, based on cheap labour assembling goods for export, with the IT sector in the area of Shanghai, relying on a more skilled workforce manufacturing high-value added goods. It is asked in what way these rather different locations within the global political economy condition the form and contents of resistance in these two sectors. The article concludes that industrial relations are more confrontational in the electronics sector with informal labour NGOs supporting workers in getting their individual and collective rights. The IT sector, in contrast, is characterised by consensual relationships. Informal labour NGOs concentrate on organising cultural activities for workers’ free time, performing a mediating role between employers and employees, supported by the government.

Citation

Bieler, A., & Lee, C. (2017). Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. Globalizations, 14(2), 202-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 18, 2016
Online Publication Date Jul 15, 2016
Publication Date Feb 23, 2017
Deposit Date Jun 23, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Globalizations
Print ISSN 1474-7731
Electronic ISSN 1474-774X
Publisher Routledge
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 14
Issue 2
Pages 202-215
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698
Keywords Chinese form of state; Electronic sector; Informal labour NGOs; Pearl River Delta; Yangtze River Delta
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/800721
Publisher URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations