Despotism on the shop floor: Foreign company labour governance in Ethiopia's industrial park

Abstract

In recent years, Ethiopia has become a prime destination for labour-intensive, export-oriented manufacturing industries by virtue of its favourable investment climate and cheap labour. This article examines the labour governance and disciplinary strategies of foreign companies in Ethiopia's industrial park, focusing on the Blue Apparel Company (BAC) in the Bole Lemi Industrial Park, Addis Ababa. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted from August 2021 to August 2022, the study reveals how relaxed labour regulations and the absence of trade unions enable foreign firms to enforce strict, profit-driven governance. The analysis highlights despotic management practices, hierarchical power dynamics and their impact on local workers. The findings shed light on the intricacies of labour control in globalized production regimes and highlight the challenges workers encounter in emerging economies.