Building an Industrial Workforce in Ethiopia

Main author: Oya, Carlos
Format: Book Chapters           
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id eprints-31451
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This chapter provides an overview of the factors and dynamics involved in the creation and formation of an industrial workforce in an agrarian-based economy. The main argument is that the process of building an industrial working class is uneven, protracted, and requires interventions and important economic and social shifts over long periods of time. Historical lessons of early and late industrializers are highly relevant for contemporary Ethiopia as it seems that history does repeat itself in some ways. The chapter focuses on a number of structural obstacles to the process of building an industrial workforce, particularly: addressing socio-cultural barriers and the problem of ‘work cultures’ and work ethic; sourcing workers, managing and especially housing migrant labour; scarcity of employable skills (including soft skills); mismatch in expectations between employers and workers, largely related to wage-setting mechanisms, non-wage conditions, and labour productivity.
author_additional Cheru, Fantu
author_additionalStr Cheru, Fantu
format Book Chapters
author Oya, Carlos
author_facet Oya, Carlos
authorStr Oya, Carlos
author_letter Oya, Carlos
title Building an Industrial Workforce in Ethiopia
publisher Oxford University Press
publishDate 2019
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/31451/