Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

China’s emerging influence in sub-Saharan Africa has been welcomed by some and criticised by others. This relationship has seen an increase in Chinese demand for African resources, an increase in GDP growth and substantial infrastructure investment. However, China’s influence has also challenged macroeconomic stability, good governance, resulted in poor working conditions, and threatened national sovereignty in some countries. This movement, which forms part of a ‘global rebalancing’ from North-South to East-South relations, has raised questions around ensuring decent work remains a priority. Decent work, which initially emerged as a response to rapid globalisation and neoliberalism, is seen as an agreement between government, workers, and business. Though this alliance relies on domestic cooperation, decent work initiatives have also been successful within global supply chains. These, however, rely heavily on the strength of institutions within borders as well as across borders. The bulk of these public institutions are identified by the ILO as government policies, laws, rules and regulations, while private institutions include social norms, codes of conduct, social monitoring, consumer demand for socially responsible production, and social movements. Given the nature of the relationship which China has with many sub-Saharan African countries, the purpose of this paper is to study the extent to which institutions have been able to protect the rights of workers in sub-Saharan African in light of increased Chinese involvement. Knowing which of these are most effective in the context of decreased bargaining power is of value to international oversight bodies and domestic workers’ associations.