Deals with the impact of economic globalization on female employment and considers new areas of paid employment opened up for women.

Abstract A key challenge to promoting decent work in global production networks is how to improve the position of both firms and workers integrated into value chains in which lead firms play a dominant role. Analysis of global production networks and value chains has focused mainly on firms,...

Abstract Horticulture value chains in South Africa are undergoing a process of rapid transformation. The sector is significant in the generation of agricultural GDP, employment and exports. European supermarkets have long been an important destination for fruit. Supermarkets source through...

Global value chains (GVCs) are changing the way trade is conducted and value is created and captured. As more trade is organized through close coordination between buyers and suppliers, moving to high value-added activities, or economic upgrading, is critically determined by lead firms,...

Third party labour contractors are increasingly prevalent in Global Production Networks (GPNs), and are a potential channel for ‘new forms of slavery’. Our review of case study evidence from South African and UK horticulture suggests unfree labour often emerges off - site through labour...

Global value chains (GVCs) offer important opportunities for women worldwide to earn a living – garments, tourism, mobile phones and commercial horticulture are good examples. Women can play a vital role in supporting value chain upgrading – as workers, farmers, producers and consumers. Yet...