Post-MFA Adjustment in the Philippine Garments Sector: Women's Cooperatives amid Manufacturing Decline

Original Article
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Abstract

The end of the Multi Fibre Arrangements (MFA) in 2005 led to the reconfiguration of international value chains and to major international shifts in garments manufacturing which generated both winners and losers among countries and workers. Based on empirical data collection by means of open interviews and a workers' survey, this paper focuses on the survival of the Philippine garments sector in the post MFA-era. Particular attention is paid to three groups of displaced women in Metro Manila who took action to safeguard their employment in this declining sector by forming manufacturing cooperatives. It demonstrates how they can sustain their employment after displacement and identifies the lessons it provides for women in similar situations elsewhere. Herewith the paper contributes to the research agenda on how international dynamics in production have an impact on the position of women working at the bottom of international value chains.

Keywords

international value chains garment sector manufacturing decline workers' cooperatives Philippines 

Abstract

La fin des Accords Multi- Fibres (AMF) en 2005 a donné lieu à une reconfiguration des chaînes de valeur internationales ainsi qu'à des transformations importantes dans la fabrication de vêtements, qui ont produit des gagnants et des perdants, tant parmi les pays que les travailleurs. Sur la base d'informations collectées au moyen d'entretiens ouverts et d'un questionnaire auprès d'ouvriers, cet article se penche sur la survie de l'industrie du vêtement aux Philippines dans l'ère post-AMF. Une attention particulière est portée à trois groupes de femmes ayant formé des coopératives de fabrication à Manille afin de sauvegarder leur emploi dans ce secteur en déclin. L'article démontre comment celles-ci ont pu en conséquence maintenir un emploi, et identifie les leçons de cette expérience pour la main d'oeuvre féminine dans des situations semblables ailleurs. Ce faisant, il contribue à un agenda de recherche sur la manière dont les dynamiques productives internationales peuvent avoir un impact sur la situation de la main d'oeuvre féminine travaillant en aval des chaînes de valeur internationales.

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Notes

Acknowledgements

We thank two anonymous referees and the chief editor of The European Journal of Development Research for their helpful comments and suggestions. The usual disclaimers apply.

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Copyright information

© Palgrave Macmillan 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam

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