GLOBALIZATION AND LABOR - A CASE-STUDY OF EPZ WORKERS IN MALAYSIA

Like many Asian states, Malaysia has used export processing zones (EPZ s) as a strategy to promote economic development. It has been found th at the role of the state in labour-management relations and the type o f worker employed in EPZs are critical variables which affect the stat e's capability to maximize the economic potential of EPZs. This articl e analyses the impact that these variables have also had on the abilit y of EPZ workers to organize freely and bargain collectively. As a res ult it is proposed that the theoretical framework contextualizing this analysis has to extend beyond class and include a perspective which a ssesses how the private interests of workers as well as class affect E PZ labour. The private interests referred to here are ethnicity, gende r and nationalism.