Representation of Domestic Workers (DWs) in China

1. Postgraduate Student Conference Representation of Domestic Workers (DWs)in China Zhirong HAO z.hao@sms.ed.ac.k 16th June 2009

2. 1 3 2 4 Outline of the Presentation Introduction DWs’ Representing Organizations Proposed Research Methodology My Problems

3. Introduction Motivations Objectives Background • To Fill Literature Gap No scholarly research about DWs’ representation in China. I am doing my PhD study in expectation of contributing some knowledge to this field. • Deeply impressed by violation of DWs’ rights through news reports and my own experience once talking with some DWs in Ji’nan City, China, I hope I can help find out real reasons of their plight. • Terminology • Domestic Worker (DWs) in my research refer to person employed in private homes in urban areas -- taking care of children, cleaning and doing other household labor. • Background/Problem • Domestic work has become very popular in China recent years. • However,…… • To examine the roles of organizations that represent DWs in China. • To understand the reasons/factors that have influence on the effectiveness of these organizations. Add Your Title

4. Domestic Workers--Marginalized Work Characteristics Status Rights Gap • As Women Workers • As Informal Workers • As Migrant and Laid-off Workers • Invisibility • Fragmentation • Low wage • Work overtime without extra pay • Bad working conditions • …… • Excluded from Labor and Employment Law • Excluded from Social Protection (eg. Social Security System) • Violation of Rights as Humans (eg. lack of dignity and respects) 1 DW 3

5. As individuals, DWs can not overcome the limitations and constraints when trying to protect their rights …… There are organizations for DWs, whether they had existed before or have newly emerged….. What are their roles? My research begins….

6. Research Questions • Major RQ What are the roles of the organizations in representing domestic workers in China? Can these organizations represent DWs effectively? Why? • Subsidiary RQs 1.What are the organizations that represent DWs in China? 2.Can these organizations represent DWs effectively in China? If not, Why? What are the factors that prevent them from representing DWs more effectivly? 3.How do the organizations perform their roles? What strategies and activities do they carry out? 4.What are the structures of these organizations? 5.How do staff think of their organizations’ roles in representing domestic workers?

7. DWs’ Representing Organizations Note: FTUs Federation of Trade Unions WF Women’s Federation LAGs Legal Advocacy Groups NGOs Non-governmental Organizations FTUs WF DWs LAG NGOs

8. My Hypothesis These organizations can not represent DWs effectively. Why do I think so? What are my reasons? How can I collect evidence? By reviewing literature + my own reasoning + future field work?!

9. Federation of Trade Unions • State organ？ • Dual identity : Representative of national interests and workers’ interests at the same time? (Ambivalent roles) • Not decline but increase: membership increase, union branches increase etc. • Leaders appointed from above but not through democratic election ……. Very different from trade unions in other countries. What are their real roles for DWs in China? Why? Low efficiency with strong power??

10. Women’s Federation • Under the leadership of Communist Party of China (CPC) • As a bridge connecting party/government and women citizens • Fund from government (eg. Local public finance ) • Quasi-governmental Organization? • Passive role for protecting women? • Organizational structure? Leadership? Activities? What’s its real roles in protecting DWs? Why ?Further investigation… Source: ( All China Women’s Federation Statues, 2008)

11. Legal Advocacy Groups • Include Academic Actors (eg. The Centre for Women’s Law & Legal Services of Peking University,1995) Legal Consulting Office • As independent actors? • Research or reputation is their goal? Not really for DWs’ interests? …… What are their real roles for DWs? Why?

12. NGOs • Include Grassroots Organizations Charitable Organizations etc • Lack of legitimacy? • Lack of fund? • Leaders? Structure? • They do not have strong influence and mobilizing power among DWs. What are their real roles? Why? further investigation…

13. Proposed Research Methodology • Research Design Inductive Strategy Case Study Approach • Methodology Qualitative study employing: --Semi-structured interviews (eg. organization leaders and staff) --Non-participant observation (eg. Organization activities for DWs） Analysis of documents Multiple sources to collect data

14. Sample Cases Selection Investigate TUs, WF, LAGs and NGOs in one city, Xi’an( Shaanxi, China). A typical city for my research, where it seems that all these organizations are active. And LAGs and NGOs for DWs have been established for a longer time compared with most other cities in China. By investigating these organizations in one city, I can also get more information about the relationship between these different actors which could be one factor that influences the effectiveness. (Interacting actors?) For practical consideration, I did internship in Shaanxi Women’s Federation (SXWF）in Xi‘an for two months in 2005. In addition, I lived in Xi’an for four years and am familiar with surroundings. I have acquaintances there who may provide help to negotiate access to these organizations. • Ethical Issues Informed Consent: Voluntary Participation? Avoid Deception: the risk of exposing them? Privacy and Confidentiality

15. My problems • Theoretically Conceptual framework? Organizational theory Institutional theory Representation theory Mobilizing Theory …… • Methodologically units of analysis??

16. WELCOME Questions and Suggestions! Thank you!