Globalization and Social Exclusion - Introduction to Globalization Studies - Lecture Slides, Slides of Culture and Globalization

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Topic 7 & 8

Globalization and Social Ex clusion—

Hong K ong

Questions: 1.What are the new forms of social exclusion (社會排斥) in Hong Kong at the time of changing itself into a global city?

2.How these global changes affect employment in general and youth employment in particular?

Them e:

• The new forms of social exclusion in Hong Kong in the process of HK struggling to be a global city.

Social P olarization and M arginal W ork ers

• The HK Oxfam report, entitled “Situation of Hong Kong Marginalized Workers in Recent Years”(香 港 「 邊 緣 勞 工 」 近 年 的 發 展 ) , had been published in June 2000.
• The report indicates that the number of marginal workers has been increasing drastically, from about 380,000 in 1996 to 640,000 in 1999.

Social P olarization and M arginal W ork ers

• Marginal workers refer to the persons who are either unemployed, underemployed, low-paid below half of the median income.
• Economic restructuring and globalisation lead to a dual and segregated labour market (分割勞動力市場 ) and thus the problems of marginal workers.

K ey concept to rem em ber!

Social P olarization and M arginal W ork ers

• The research highlights four important

concepts: the vulnerability of marginal

workers, the marginal trap (邊緣困局),

social exclusion, and social capital and

community economies.

K ey concept to rem em ber!

M arginal W ork ers as “Unprotected” Deprived

W ork ers

• The research shows that marginal workers in Hong Kong are the most deprived workers, lacking any protection of their rights.
• They are vulnerable socio-economically, with no bargaining power.

Falling into a “M arginal Trap”

• The de-industrialisation, economic polarisation, an unbalanced government economic policy, stringent control on hawkers, and redevelopment of old districts, have all contributed to the predicament of marginal workers.

Falling into a “M arginal Trap”

• Once they fall into the marginal sector, as temporary, part-time, or contracted workers, there are very few, if not none, upward mobility chances.

Falling into a “M arginal Trap”

• The marginal labour market is in effect a "trap". It is difficult, if not impossible, for workers to escape from it.

Typical Bird view of Lower- middle Class people

Social Ex clusion as the Source of M arginal

W ork ers’ P roblem s

• The marginalisation of workers is not simply a poverty issue; it is also a phenomenon of social exclusion.
• Marginal workers are women, new arrivals, and those who come from minority groups.

Social Ex clusion as the Source of M arginal

W ork ers’ P roblem s

• It is evident that it is not an individual issue. The social system, which excludes marginal workers, is one of the major culprits.

Social Ex clusion as the Source of M arginal

W ork ers’ P roblem s

• Treating marginal workers as a product

of poverty risks missing the non-

economic factors.

• At worse, it wrongly gives an idea that

compensating the marginal workers

economically or booting up the economy

can automatically resolve their problems.

W eak ening Social Capital and Declining

Com m unity Econom ies

• Social capital that previously formed

based on their occupational affiliation

and geographic proximity was lost.

• With the economic transformation and

rescaling of urban space, these

livelihood networks of a particular

neighbourhood, workers' group and

small entrepreneur were gradually

dismantled.

W eak ening Social Capital and Declining

Com m unity Econom ies

• This has extensively undermined the capacity of individual members to cope in times of crisis.