Shoes, glues, and families: Working conditions in informal sector footwear manufacturing

This research investigates working conditions in informal sector shoemaking in Indonesia and the Philippines, its gender dimensions, and national and international policy implications. Qualitative investigation techniques were applied: (i) 52 in-depth interviews, (ii) more than 50 shoe workshop walk-through inspections by local evaluators and the author, and (iii) a literature review. The work is constructed on Indonesian and Philippines case studies as well as on a historical review of the Massachusetts, USA, footwear industry.; The research hypotheses supported by collected data include: (i) working conditions in informal sector shoe manufacturing are hazardous. These hazardous conditions are upheld by converging forces of diverse agencies at international, national, community, and shoe industry levels; (ii) better working conditions---including chemicals management---exist in those home-based establishments where women and men share work, family, and business management responsibilities; and (iii) gender inequality significantly hinders the creation of a safer and more healthful home-based business environment. An active women's movement could be a significant factor in improving working conditions in this industry.; Based on the research findings, various agencies and actors were analyzed to identify potential intervention points to improve the work environment in informal sector shoemaking. The research participants in the shoe manufacturing communities highlighted health care services, maternity and childcare centers, public health clinics, locally situated technical and development projects, schools and universities, as such interveners. But much intervention must take place outside of the shoemaking community. In the absence of sufficient government infrastructure and trade union advocacy for safety in the informal sector---like home-based shoemaking---the role of women and the value of organizing women are crucial to promote safer production systems. The international financial institutions are in a decisive position to fortify government social and health infrastructures and the production methods of the global and local shoe industry.