Work, gender and discrimination in global production

The ‘feminisation of employment' in global production is linked to expansion of global value chains (GVCs) led by multinational companies (MNCs) that source goods such as garments and agri-food from low-wage economies. GVCs have provided new opportunities for women to access independent paid work in the global South. Some workers benefit through provision of regular work with better rights, but women and disadvantaged groups are mainly concentrated in flexible and insecure work with poor labour standards. Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity and migrant status is endemic in GVCs selling low-price consumer goods. Codes of labour practice applied by MNCs to ensure supplier compliance with international labour standards have proved ineffective at addressing discrimination or freedom of association. However, global value chains provide channels for new forms of contestation by flexible workers, independent unions, and civil society organisations. Demands are growing for governments to protect workers' rights in global production.