The informal economy and export processing zones

Summary

This publication examines areas of women's work in the world economy which have been largely ignored by labour market statistics, media headlines and research projects. It provides basic information on the informal economy and export processing zones, in which the vulnerable work of women predominate, andlooks at the development of women's work in the context of globalisation and the prevailing gender order.

According to the latest statistics of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), almost two-thirds of all paid labour in the world work in the informal economy - most of them in the developing and newly industrialising countries. Two-thirds of them are considered to be poor. In the 3,500 export processing zones located in 130 countries, women account for 70 to 90% of workers. Elementary labour and women's rights are violated in these tax and customs enclaves. A current assessment by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the effectiveness of export processing zones after four decades is shocking: According to the study, they were only successful in developing the local economy in four countries, albeit with numerous incidences of serious violations of labour and women's rights.

This publication proposes that the ILO Agenda for Decent Work and the recommendations of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) be used as a strategic orientation framework for a realignment of the economic and gender order. These objectives are spelled out in concrete form in proposals for action by church and women's groups, trade unions and youth organisations using the example of campaigns relating to the global textile and clothing industry, in which work in the informal economy and export processing zones is commonplace.

The publication is sponsored by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, IG Metall, ver.di and Altner-Combecher Stiftung für Ökologie und Frieden.

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Women Working In The Shadows (PDF)