Relational Well-being of Female Workers in Low-Skilled Jobs in Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.13169/zanjglobsoutstud.8.1.0009
• Publication Date: 2025-01-25T19:20:11Z
• Authors: Konjit H. Gudeta; Valentina Mazzucato; Elsje Fourie; Bilisuma Dito; Kai J. Jonas; Karen Schelleman-...

With the expansion of global production networks (GPNs) in Africa, more women are becoming employed low-skilled and labor-intensive jobs. Most studies on workers GPNs focus work conditions their impact network effectiveness, while placing less emphasis relational well-being local industrial workers. Employing a approach that considers multiple dimensions people’s lives (the material, subjective, relational), we explore how female experience foreign-owned flower apparel sectors operating Ethiopia. Based in-depth interviews with thirty-nine employees, find value different types social relationships they have. Coworkers, friends, family, members broader community important for women’s well-being, supporting them materially subjectively, enabling to cope life difficulties. Relationships supervisors employers, however, can negatively especially through stress cause, political environment also has negative effect overall well-being.