New Research Challenges Perceptions of Chinese Labor Practices in Africa

The School for Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London has released the results of its research in Ethiopia and Angola on Chinese labor practices. On 21 June 2019 it published a short summary titled "Chinese Firms and Employment Dynamics in Africa: Research Findings." On 3 July 2019, SOAS added a press release titled "SOAS Research Challenges Perceptions of Chinese Firms' Labour Practices in Africa."

The new findings challenge commonly held perceptions of labor practices in Africa by Chinese manufacturing and construction firms. In terms of job creation, SOAS found that the proportion of Ethiopian and Angolan workers in the labor force is substantially higher than usually assumed in media accounts. Wages in sampled Chinese firms were broadly similar to other top firms in the same sectors, once other worker and company characteristics were taken into account.

For the working papers see:

--Chinese FDI in Angola and Ethiopia: Between Flying Geese and Resource Colonialism? by Christina Wolf and Sam-Kee Cheng.

--Chinese Overseas Contracted Projects and Economic Diversification in Angola and Ethiopia 2000-2017 by Christina Wolf and Sam-Kee Cheng.

--Labour Regimes and Workplace Encounters between China and Africa by Carlos Oya.