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Gender and governance of global value chains: Promoting the rights of women workers

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  • Stephanie BARRIENTOS
  • Lara BIANCHI
  • Cindy BERMAN

Abstract

Private governance channelled through social compliance programmes and gender initiatives of multinational companies have had limited impact in tackling gender discrimination in global value chains (GVCs). The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) provide a public–private governance framework to address human rights globally, including gender equality. This article considers whether the UNGPs can provide a more effective governance framework for addressing women workers’ rights in GVCs. It argues that interlayered forms of governance (involving public, private and social actors) are critical in addressing gender discrimination in GVCs and advancing a gendered approach to human rights due diligence.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie BARRIENTOS & Lara BIANCHI & Cindy BERMAN, 2019. "Gender and governance of global value chains: Promoting the rights of women workers," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(4), pages 729-752, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:158:y:2019:i:4:p:729-752
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12150
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    Cited by:

    1. Manuel Santos Silva & Stephan Klasen, 2021. "Gender inequality as a barrier to economic growth: a review of the theoretical literature," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 581-614, September.
    2. Mark ANNER, 2021. "Three labour governance mechanisms for addressing decent work deficits in global value chains," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(4), pages 611-629, December.
    3. Ari Van Assche & Kristin Brandl, . "Harnessing power within global value chains for sustainable development," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    4. Johanna Gammelgaard & Stine Haakonsson & Sine Nørholm Just, 2021. "Linking Malawi’s agricultural sector to global value chains: The case for community governance," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(4), pages 523-540, December.
    5. Dallas, Mark P. & Horner, Rory & Li, Lantian, 2021. "The mutual constraints of states and global value chains during COVID-19: The case of personal protective equipment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    6. Kate Grosser & Meagan Tyler, 2022. "Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence and CSR: Radical Feminist Theory and a Human Rights Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 177(2), pages 217-232, May.
    7. Mark ANNER, 2022. "Power relations in global supply chains and the unequal distribution of costs during crises: Abandoning garment suppliers and workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 161(1), pages 59-82, March.
    8. Bjorn Van Campenhout & Anusha De, 2023. "Gendered perceptions in maize supply chains: Evidence from Uganda," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(2), March.
    9. Marslev, Kristoffer & Staritz, Cornelia & Raj‐Reichert, Gale, 2022. "Rethinking Social Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Worker Power, State‒Labour Relations and Intersectionality," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 53(4), pages 827-859.
    10. Krauss, Judith E. & Artur, Luis & Brockington, Dan & Castro, Eduardo & Fernando, Jone & Fisher, Janet & Kingman, Andrew & Moises, Hosia Mavoto & Mlambo, Ana & Nuvunga, Milagre & Pritchard, Rose & Ribe, 2022. "‘To prevent this disease, we have to stay at home, but if we stay at home, we die of hunger’ – Livelihoods, vulnerability and coping with Covid-19 in rural Mozambique," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Laura T. Raynolds, 2021. "Gender equity, labor rights, and women’s empowerment: lessons from Fairtrade certification in Ecuador flower plantations," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(3), pages 657-675, September.
    12. Margareet Visser & Matthew Alford, 2024. "Governance and Power Across Intersecting Value Chains: The Case of South African Apples," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 69-86, January.
    13. Sheba TEJANI & Sakiko FUKUDA‐PARR, 2021. "Gender and COVID‐19: Workers in global value chains," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(4), pages 649-667, December.
    14. Kate Grosser, 2021. "Gender, business and human rights: Academic activism as critical engagement in neoliberal times," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 1624-1637, July.
    15. Giovanni Pasquali & Shane Godfrey, 2022. "Governance of Eswatini Apparel Regional Value Chains and the Implications of Covid-19," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(1), pages 473-502, February.
    16. Gary GEREFFI & Anne Caroline POSTHUMA & Arianna ROSSI, 2021. "Introduction: Disruptions in global value chains – Continuity or change for labour governance?," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(4), pages 501-517, December.
    17. Kossi Edem Baita & Kwami Ossadzifo Wonyra, 2023. "Effet global du genre dans le développement des chaînes de valeur mondiales dans le contexte africain," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 35(4), pages 365-375, December.
    18. Matthew Alford & Margareet Visser & Stephanie Barrientos, 2021. "Southern actors and the governance of labour standards in global production networks: The case of South African fruit and wine," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 53(8), pages 1915-1934, November.
    19. Uma RANI & Damian GRIMSHAW, 2019. "Introduction: What does the future promise for work, employment and society?," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(4), pages 577-592, December.
    20. Nikulin, Dagmara & Wolszczak-Derlacz, Joanna, 2022. "GVC involvement and the gender wage gap: Micro-evidence on European countries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 268-282.
    21. Oldekop, Johan A. & Horner, Rory & Hulme, David & Adhikari, Roshan & Agarwal, Bina & Alford, Matthew & Bakewell, Oliver & Banks, Nicola & Barrientos, Stephanie & Bastia, Tanja & Bebbington, Anthony J., 2020. "COVID-19 and the case for global development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    22. Jonathan Morris & Jean Jenkins & Jimmy Donaghey, 2021. "Uneven Development, Uneven Response: The Relentless Search for Meaningful Regulation of GVCs," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 59(1), pages 3-24, March.

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