Het mondiaal uitzendkantoor

BEIJING / NEW DELHI - ‘Economic globalisation has made many countries, particularly in Asia, richer. However, income inequality has also increased in most countries. Companies are constantly looking for the cheapest and least protected labour. Moreover, the internet has given them access to a virtual global factory floor. They can now break work down into small tasks and outsource them through their global agency network more easily than ever before. Consequently, the proportion of wages in the economy is falling almost everywhere, putting workers under pressure in all sorts of ways. Can things be improved?

The International Labour Organisation, trade unions and various NGOs are campaigning for decent work because 'workers are not tools'.

Whether you’re a fruit picker, factory worker, healthcare worker, website developer or postman, almost all of us have to work to make a living. This is no easy feat, especially given the current global economic, environmental and social crises. Millions of people are losing their jobs, while half of all working people earn less than two euros a day.

Could things be better? Certainly. Countries such as China, Brazil and India are taking steps to improve working conditions. The urgent need to tackle environmental problems on a global scale creates a huge demand for jobs. The crisis provides an incentive to build a social, ecological and democratic economy.

Supported
€5,000 granted on 17/06/2008
ID:
FPD/2008/639

Publication

BOOK (in Dutch)

  • Title: Het mondiale uitzendkantoor
    Subtitle: Waardig werk in tijden van globalisering en crisis
    Authors: Dirk Barrez en John Vandaele
    Publisher: EPO, Antwerpen
    isbn: 9789064450006
    Format: paperback (15 x 22,5 cm)
    Pages: 312
    Price: € 20,00
    Publication date: 29/04/2009
    This book is also available with a DVD

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