Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025
08:27
Applying an eMASS Customization Program as a Research Tool to Evaluate Consumer Benefits
Published on: September 27, 2019
7.0K
Globalization and working conditions in international supply chains
Juan Carlos Hiba1, Marina Jentsch2, Klaus J Zink2
1Applied Ergonomics Group, Institute of Technology, Design and Innovation (ITDI), Faculty of Engineering, National University of Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina.
Zeitschrift Fur Arbeitswissenschaft
|June 30, 2021
Summary
This paper examines working conditions in export processing zones (EPZs) and special economic zones (SEZs) within global supply chains. It highlights the International Labour Organization's (ILO) "decent work" guidelines and discusses the ongoing relevance and future challenges of these zones.
Area of Science:
- Socio-economics
- International Trade Law
- Labor Economics
Background:
- Globalization has long involved discussions on working conditions in international supply chains.
- Special Economic Zones (SEZs), particularly Export Processing Zones (EPZs), are common in developing countries to attract investment through incentives like tax holidays and relaxed labor laws.
- The International Labour Organization (ILO) developed
- decent work
- guidelines in response to these practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the current state and future prospects of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs).
- To examine the effectiveness of International Labour Organization (ILO) guidelines on "decent work" in these zones.
- To assess the impact of trade agreements and growing criticism regarding ecological and labor conditions.
Main Methods:
- The paper synthesizes perspectives from multiple authors, including an ILO viewpoint.
- It analyzes trends and developments in SEZs/EPZs, using the textile industry as a case study.
- It reviews World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and regional trade agreements concerning subsidies and special zone treatment.
Main Results:
- Despite ILO guidelines, challenges persist regarding labor protection and working conditions in SEZs/EPZs.
- Trade regulations are evolving to address subsidies and the special treatment of free trade zones.
- Increasing criticism focuses on the ecological and social impacts of production within these zones.
Conclusions:
- Understanding SEZs/EPZs is crucial, especially with upcoming legislation like the German and European Corporate Due Diligence Law.
- There is a need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of policies to ensure decent work and sustainability in global supply chains.
- The future of these zones depends on addressing environmental concerns and improving worker welfare.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Global Regulatory Systems
228
Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
228
01:24Factors Affecting Workability
164
The workability of concrete is a critical characteristic that influences the ease of mixing, handling, and finishing the concrete. It is affected by several factors including water content, aggregate properties, and admixtures like air entrainment. Water plays a fundamental role as it lubricates the concrete mix, facilitating easier movement and placement. However, the water requirement varies depending on the texture and shape of aggregates. Finer particles and angular, rough-textured...
164
01:19Impact of Groups on Groups
77
Social psychologists analyze how groups influence one another, shaping social structures and interactions through both cooperation and competition. These dynamics manifest in various ways, ranging from economic partnerships to intergroup conflicts that shape societal structures and perceptions.Cooperation and Competition in Intergroup RelationsIntergroup relationships vary across contexts, sometimes fostering cooperation and mutual benefit while at other times leading to conflict and...
77
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
1.1K
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Geneva. The WHO has many initiatives that center around health. Primarily, they lead global efforts to expand universal health coverage using science-based policies and programs. They are also responsible for shaping health research agendas and developing norms and standards.
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...
1.1K
01:27Ethical Issues
1.5K
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
1.5K
01:43Sustainable Development
14.1K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
14.1K