Export Processing Zones
For our next paper, I will be focusing on the lifestyle of women in Export Processing Zones (EPZ, or also referred to as Free Trade Zones). Since EPZ are used by countries to promote globalization, I thought it would be nice to bring it to our blog to discuss.
Wikipedia.org defines Export Processing Zones:
"An Export processing zone or EPZ eases tax and labor restrictions and their primary purpose is to generate export revenues in poor developing countries. Export processing zones can be defined as labour intensive manufacturing centres that involve the import of raw materials or components and the export of factory products. In 2002 there were 43 million people working in about 3000 EPZs spanning 116 countries producing clothes, shoes, sneakers, electronics, and toys. The basic objectives of EPZs are to enhance foreign exchange earnings, develop export-oriented industries and to generate employment opportunities."
I just found out about the existence of EPZ earlier this week and I am surprised that I had not known of them earlier. I found it very interesting that there are actual regions in countries that are committed to promoting globalization through cheap and mass production of exports. For my paper, I decided to focus on the lives of women in EPZ becuase they make up approximately 80% of the workforce in the zones. While some claims state that the zones are good because they bring jobs to developing countries and build export-oriented companies they also have negative aspects for the workers, such as diseases, and for women, sexual harrassment. Has anyone else heard interesting facts about EPZ around the world?
Comments
I, too, had never heard about EPZs till now; and with further research into the subject, I found some interesting data and facts. As you stated, there are zones for the sole promotion of globalization through exports. However, I was under the impression that in these zones anything and everything was traded. With further research, I found a lot of countries focus on a single industry in a particular zone. For example, a jewelry zone in Thailand or the leather zone in Turkey. There are single-commodity zones and single factory zones. I see how this would make sense, instead of having multiple industries throughout a single zone; having a focus on one industry is more efficient. I also stumbled across the site of the EPZ authority of Kenya where they stated the purpose of the zones in Kenya. The site also gave some interesting information about the number of EPZs in Kenya and the number of Kenyans employed.
“EPZs are designed to further integrate Kenya into the global supply chain and attract export-oriented investments in the zones, thus achieving its economic objectives of job creation, diversification and expansion of exports, increase in productive investments, technology transfer and creation of backward linkages between the zones and the domestic economy.”
Posted by: Jon Martin | October 12, 2006 10:37 PM
I have not heard much more about the EPZ but what you have listed. But i would like to say im in favor. If people trully want the poor to keep up with globalization then systems like these are what we need to keep every country on its feet so to speak.
Posted by: Dustin Bell | October 12, 2006 11:26 PM
Yes, I had no idea as well, which makes for an interesting reasearch subject. How do these zones impact the global market? Does the world really want to rid itself of sweat shops that exploit young children? If it can bring profitability and enhance the lives involved it's not so bad. Right? Well, hopefully you'll find enough information against it so that you can claim it to be an atrocity against humanity.
Posted by: Gamber | October 13, 2006 12:19 AM