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Sexual harassment in an east African agribusiness supply chain

Susie Jacobs, Bénédicte Brahic and Marta Medusa Olaiya

The Economic and Labour Relations Review, 2015, vol. 26, issue 3, 393-410

Abstract: This article discusses sexual harassment in the east African cut-flower and horticultural industry, based on research on 62 farms in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It argues that sexual harassment is fostered both by coercive labour conditions within global value chains and by existing hierarchical gender relations. The research finds that harassment is widespread, that many lack a vocabulary to describe or discuss this, and that female casual and temporary workers are most likely to be targeted. Action research coupled with organisation of workers, however, has been effective in giving ‘voice’ to those suffering harassment: this is a first step in a feminist labour mobilisation and policy formulation. Procedures against sexual harassment are beginning to be formulated: a key concern is implementation. Addressing sexual harassment is central in ensuring the security of working people, particularly the most marginalised.

Keywords: Decent work; gender; global value networks; labour rights; occupational safety; sexual harassment; trade unions; vulnerable workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 F02 J53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:26:y:2015:i:3:p:393-410

DOI: 10.1177/1035304615595604

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