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Expectations versus reality: The well‐being of female migrant workers in garment factories in Myanmar

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  • Hanh NGUYEN

Abstract

This article examines how material and non‐material well‐being is under‐stood and experienced by female migrant workers in unskilled labour‐intensive industries. It follows the capability approach pioneered by Amartya Sen, arguing that a lack of self‐ and collective empowerment can undermine economic, social and psychological well‐being. Data drawn from a survey of a cross section of 249 female migrant workers in garment factories in Myanmar support this theory. In the light of the country's economic and social transitions, its asymmetric labour market and its underdeveloped social security system, the author suggests that labour policies should embrace and empower the most vulnerable groups of workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanh NGUYEN, 2021. "Expectations versus reality: The well‐being of female migrant workers in garment factories in Myanmar," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(2), pages 219-242, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:160:y:2021:i:2:p:219-242
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Ministry of Electricity and Energy of the Union of Myanmar & The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, 2019. "Myanmar Energy Statistics 2019," Books, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), number 2019-myanmar-energy-stati, March.
    4. M. Joseph Sirgy, 2018. "The Psychology of Material Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 13(2), pages 273-301, June.
    5. Bruce Headey, 1993. "An economic model of subjective well-being: Integrating economic and psychological theories," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 97-116, February.
    6. Rosen, Sherwin, 1974. "Hedonic Prices and Implicit Markets: Product Differentiation in Pure Competition," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 82(1), pages 34-55, Jan.-Feb..
    7. McBride, Michael, 2001. "Relative-income effects on subjective well-being in the cross-section," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 251-278, July.
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