Labour in global value chains: the case of South African fish exporting companies
- Authors: Mufukari, Panashe
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Global value chain , Migrant labor South Africa , Workforce casualisation , Casual labor South Africa , Precarious employment South Africa , Exploitation of labour
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480155 , vital:78402
- Description: Global value chains have reconfigured the organization of production and distribution across the world. Such a transformation has led to production fragmentation across multiple locations and the specialization of firms some of which now produce only one component of a larger product. Transformation in international trade has enabled multinational corporations to outsource production and operations to low-cost locations, which are mainly found in the Global South. Global value chains research explores these dynamics. This research began with Hopkins and Wallerstein’s work on world-systems analysis, which was concerned with the likelihood that these chains are characterized by inequality. However, later approaches, focused on Global Commodity Chains (GCCs), Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Global Production Networks (GPNs), suggested that participation in global value chains could advance development for Global South nations and result in “social upgrading” and decent work for those employed by companies that participate in these chains. This thesis explores the lived experiences of workers in South African fish exporting companies in the city of Gqeberha, to assess whether participation in global value chains does indeed mean workers experience decent working conditions. The findings of the research suggest that global value chains research needs to pay increased attention to workers. The study also emphasizes the importance of migrant labour, both internal migrant labour and international migrant labour in global value chains. By giving attention to both internal and international migrant labour, the complexity of the workforce is highlighted. Accordingly, the study calls for a comprehensive approach to the labour issue in global chains because the diverse locations and contexts shape workers’ experiences with and outcomes from participation in global chains. The study concludes that the world-systems tradition remains relevant for understanding the contemporary issues of unequal exchange, hierarchy of occupational tasks and wages, and exploitation within these global chains, a stance that diverges from mainstream scholarship in which world-systems tradition is deemed as having limited contemporary applicability. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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- Authors: Mufukari, Panashe
- Date: 2025-04-04
- Subjects: Global value chain , Migrant labor South Africa , Workforce casualisation , Casual labor South Africa , Precarious employment South Africa , Exploitation of labour
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480155 , vital:78402
- Description: Global value chains have reconfigured the organization of production and distribution across the world. Such a transformation has led to production fragmentation across multiple locations and the specialization of firms some of which now produce only one component of a larger product. Transformation in international trade has enabled multinational corporations to outsource production and operations to low-cost locations, which are mainly found in the Global South. Global value chains research explores these dynamics. This research began with Hopkins and Wallerstein’s work on world-systems analysis, which was concerned with the likelihood that these chains are characterized by inequality. However, later approaches, focused on Global Commodity Chains (GCCs), Global Value Chains (GVCs) and Global Production Networks (GPNs), suggested that participation in global value chains could advance development for Global South nations and result in “social upgrading” and decent work for those employed by companies that participate in these chains. This thesis explores the lived experiences of workers in South African fish exporting companies in the city of Gqeberha, to assess whether participation in global value chains does indeed mean workers experience decent working conditions. The findings of the research suggest that global value chains research needs to pay increased attention to workers. The study also emphasizes the importance of migrant labour, both internal migrant labour and international migrant labour in global value chains. By giving attention to both internal and international migrant labour, the complexity of the workforce is highlighted. Accordingly, the study calls for a comprehensive approach to the labour issue in global chains because the diverse locations and contexts shape workers’ experiences with and outcomes from participation in global chains. The study concludes that the world-systems tradition remains relevant for understanding the contemporary issues of unequal exchange, hierarchy of occupational tasks and wages, and exploitation within these global chains, a stance that diverges from mainstream scholarship in which world-systems tradition is deemed as having limited contemporary applicability. , Thesis (MSocSci) -- Faculty of Humanities, Political and International Studies, 2025
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The development of mobile money services and financial inclusion in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chingono, Kudzaishe Emily
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Mobile commerce Zimbabwe , Financial inclusion , Automated tellers , Financial literacy , Education Social aspects South Africa , Technology and older people South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462691 , vital:76326
- Description: Purpose- The use of mobile phones in Zimbabwe fostered the development of various financial innovations, such as mobile money services. It is important to note that the use of mobile money services in Zimbabwe has gradually increased. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the development of mobile money services and financial inclusion in Zimbabwe. The main goal was to determine if there is a correlation between financial inclusion and the development of mobile money services. Design and Methodological approach: This study used a quantitative research design in which time series data was used to generate the analysis. The data used in the study covered a period of 20 years, starting from 2000 to 2020 on a yearly basis. Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model was used to analyze the relationship. Findings: The ARDL study results showed that in the long run, there is no statistically significant correlation between the development of mobile money services and financial inclusion, and this is suggested by the long-term relationship between the two variables over a period of 20 years. In the short run, the study findings showed that the development of mobile money services have a positive significant influence on financial inclusion with. Therefore, increase in mobile money usage was associated with increase in financial inclusion. Between the period 2000 and 2020, the major determinants of mobile moneys services are age, number of ATMs, financial literacy, income level and mobile phone penetration. The tests also showed that these variables significantly and positively influenced use of mobile money as a financial inclusion tool in Zimbabwe (p<.05). Research Limitations: The study did not find a lot of current relevant literature that would explain the relationship between mobile money services and financial inclusion. Majority of the work was carried out in other countries, and little was covered in Zimbabwe. Practical Implications: The study results implies that government should put in place measure to ensure the expansion of mobile money services in the rural areas. The mobile telecommunication firms should ensure increased mobile phone penetration. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
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- Authors: Chingono, Kudzaishe Emily
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Mobile commerce Zimbabwe , Financial inclusion , Automated tellers , Financial literacy , Education Social aspects South Africa , Technology and older people South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/462691 , vital:76326
- Description: Purpose- The use of mobile phones in Zimbabwe fostered the development of various financial innovations, such as mobile money services. It is important to note that the use of mobile money services in Zimbabwe has gradually increased. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the development of mobile money services and financial inclusion in Zimbabwe. The main goal was to determine if there is a correlation between financial inclusion and the development of mobile money services. Design and Methodological approach: This study used a quantitative research design in which time series data was used to generate the analysis. The data used in the study covered a period of 20 years, starting from 2000 to 2020 on a yearly basis. Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model was used to analyze the relationship. Findings: The ARDL study results showed that in the long run, there is no statistically significant correlation between the development of mobile money services and financial inclusion, and this is suggested by the long-term relationship between the two variables over a period of 20 years. In the short run, the study findings showed that the development of mobile money services have a positive significant influence on financial inclusion with. Therefore, increase in mobile money usage was associated with increase in financial inclusion. Between the period 2000 and 2020, the major determinants of mobile moneys services are age, number of ATMs, financial literacy, income level and mobile phone penetration. The tests also showed that these variables significantly and positively influenced use of mobile money as a financial inclusion tool in Zimbabwe (p<.05). Research Limitations: The study did not find a lot of current relevant literature that would explain the relationship between mobile money services and financial inclusion. Majority of the work was carried out in other countries, and little was covered in Zimbabwe. Practical Implications: The study results implies that government should put in place measure to ensure the expansion of mobile money services in the rural areas. The mobile telecommunication firms should ensure increased mobile phone penetration. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2024
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