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Production Politics and Migrant Labour Regimes

Guest Workers in Asia and the Gulf

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Charanpal Singh Bal

    1. Department of International Relations, BINUS University, Jakarta, Indonesia

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  • Carves a new path in the debate on migrant labour regimes by emphasizing the impact of production politics
  • Presents revealing data from a case study of Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore
  • Elucidates the recent rise of in migrant labour unrest in developed and developing countries in Asia and the Gulf

Part of the book series: Critical Studies of the Asia-Pacific (CSAP)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
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  2. Production Politics and Migrant Labour Regimes

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 1-18

  3. The Political Economy of Singapore’s Migrant Labour Regime: State Policies and Contractor Strategies

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 19-48

  4. Temporary Bangladeshi Labour Emigrants to Singapore

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 49-77

  5. Constituting Tactical Obedience in the Workplace

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 79-110

  6. Labour Conflict and the Restoration of Obedience at EW Construction

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 111-139

  7. Intimidation, Violence and the Compulsions of Desertion

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 141-170

  8. Production Politics and Migrant Labour Advocacy

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 171-206

  9. Contesting Migrant Labour Regimes: The State of Migrant Labour Politics in Asia and the Gulf

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 207-232

  10. Conclusion

    • Charanpal Singh Bal
    Pages 233-243

  11. Back Matter

    Pages 245-250
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Keywords

About this book

This book emphasizes the importance of production politics, or struggles in the workplace between workers and their employers, for understanding migrant labour regimes in Asia and the Gulf. Drawing from a study of Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore, as well as on comparative material in the region, Bal shows that migrant labour politics are significantly influenced by the specific form of production politics as well as their variable outcomes. In contrast to contentious politics approaches, this book sheds light on the extent to which migrant labour regimes can be contested by workers and civil society groups and explains the recent rise in migrant labour unrest in the region.

Reviews

“This excellent book contributes to our understanding of the nature, changing forms, and political consequences of labour unrest among these precariously employed and disempowered workers. … This argument is a timely corrective to those studies that have largely restricted their focus to the non-state political space of civil society to explain both the victories and/or limits of agitations to reform migrant labour regimes.” (Andrew Brown, Journal of Contemporary Asia, July, 2017)

“This insightful study of migrant labor regimes in Singapore’s construction industry goes far in explaining the relationship between the micro-politics of the workplace, and the political contestation of national labor regimes, demonstrating that even workers seemingly lacking in political leverage are nonetheless able to influence employers and governments in addressing their needs.  The book offers an exemplary model for linking ethnography and political economy in understanding the world of subordinated work.” (Frederic C. Deyo, Professor of Sociology, SUNY Binghamton, USA)

“This book offers a new and insightful approach to understanding the politics of migrant labour regimes everywhere. It shows how dynamic links between particular ways of conducting and organising work and the wider political economy are pivotal to the limits and potentials of migrant workers’ struggles. This is a major intervention in the migrant labour literature.” (Garry Rodan, Director of the Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Australia)

“This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of production politics and political participation, as well as the relationships between the institutions of capitalism and individuals’ agency.  Bal’s cogent multi-level theoretical argument, supported by high quality empirical data, shows how the politics of production in the construction industry in Singapore affect migrant workers’ strategies.  This book will be of interest to those studying labor migrants, labor process theory, production politics, social movements and class.” (Arne L. Kalleberg, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of International Relations, BINUS University, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Charanpal Singh Bal

About the author

Charan Bal is Deputy Head (Global Class) at the Department of International Relations, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta. He researches migrant labour politics and Southeast Asian political economy and has been published in the Journal of Contemporary Asia and the Asian Journal of Law and Society. He is a joint-winner of the Asian Studies Association of Australia PhD prize 2014.

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