Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors.
This article compares the electronics sector in the area of Shenzhen, based on cheap labour assembling goods for export, with the IT sector in the area of Shanghai, relying on a more skilled workforce manufacturing high-value added goods. It is asked in what way these rather different locations with...
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor and Francis
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34354/ |
| _version_ | 1848794832544202752 |
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| author | Bieler, Andreas Lee, Chun-Yi |
| author_facet | Bieler, Andreas Lee, Chun-Yi |
| author_sort | Bieler, Andreas |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This article compares the electronics sector in the area of Shenzhen, based on cheap labour assembling goods for export, with the IT sector in the area of Shanghai, relying on a more skilled workforce manufacturing high-value added goods. It is asked in what way these rather different locations within the global political economy condition the form and contents of resistance in these two sectors. The article concludes that industrial relations are more confrontational in the electronics sector with informal labour NGOs supporting workers in getting their individual and collective rights. The IT sector, in contrast, is characterised by consensual relationships. Informal labour NGOs concentrate on organising cultural activities for workers’ free time, performing a mediating role between employers and employees, supported by the government. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:22:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-34354 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:22:28Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Taylor and Francis |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-343542020-05-04T18:01:09Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34354/ Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. Bieler, Andreas Lee, Chun-Yi This article compares the electronics sector in the area of Shenzhen, based on cheap labour assembling goods for export, with the IT sector in the area of Shanghai, relying on a more skilled workforce manufacturing high-value added goods. It is asked in what way these rather different locations within the global political economy condition the form and contents of resistance in these two sectors. The article concludes that industrial relations are more confrontational in the electronics sector with informal labour NGOs supporting workers in getting their individual and collective rights. The IT sector, in contrast, is characterised by consensual relationships. Informal labour NGOs concentrate on organising cultural activities for workers’ free time, performing a mediating role between employers and employees, supported by the government. Taylor and Francis 2016-07-15 Article PeerReviewed Bieler, Andreas and Lee, Chun-Yi (2016) Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. Globalizations . ISSN 1474-774X Chinese form of state; Electronic sector; Informal labour NGOs; Pearl River Delta; Yangtze River Delta http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698 doi:10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698 doi:10.1080/14747731.2016.1204698 |
| spellingShingle | Chinese form of state; Electronic sector; Informal labour NGOs; Pearl River Delta; Yangtze River Delta Bieler, Andreas Lee, Chun-Yi Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title | Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title_full | Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title_fullStr | Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title_short | Exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the Chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added IT sectors. |
| title_sort | exploitation and resistance: a comparative analysis of the chinese cheap labour electronics and high-value added it sectors. |
| topic | Chinese form of state; Electronic sector; Informal labour NGOs; Pearl River Delta; Yangtze River Delta |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34354/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34354/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/34354/ |