In Work But Trapped in Poverty: A summary of five studies conducted by Oxfam, with updates on progress along the road to a living wage

Abstract

Oxfam believes that access to decent work on a living wage is a fundamental pathway out of poverty, and one of the best ways to counter growing inequality. This summary of recent Oxfam research paints a picture of workers, mostly women, who are working hard but trapped in poverty producing food and garments for consumers. Four of the five studies were conducted with companies who source or sell the products. The paper outlines the findings, gives a progress update and looks at what needs to change for workers like these to enjoy decent work on a living wage in the future.

A Study on How Cafe Amadeo Development Cooperative Affects the Coffee Farmers’ Living Wage

“…The main barriers to the living wage's adoption include a lack of government regulation and enforcement, a lack of knowledge about the rights and advantages of a living wage, and the dominance of multinational firms that put profits ahead of the welfare of their workforces (Anker et al; R., 2013). The study of Gardener et al (2015) in Morocco, Malawi, Kenya, Vietnam, and Myanmar revealed that despite having a significant amount of work to do, all rural farmers and laborers in the five nations receive poor wages and benefits that cannot keep up with the rise in the cost of living, which causes a prevalent rate of poverty. Some are compelled to work overtime for an additional 10.5 hours a week on average to boost their income.…”

Alienated nature of human essence as the main content of the civilization crisis

“…A recent briefing paper, 'In Work But Trapped in Poverty', summarizes Oxfam research which identifies common findings in five sectors across five developing countriesworkers labouring extremely long hours but still trapped in poverty. 54 In the most recent study (July 2015), garment workers in Myanmar said that, even with overtime, they could not afford housing, food and medicine with the incomes they earned in the factories, and expressed concern about low wages, long hours and safety issues. 55 In Morocco in 2009, Oxfam found that female strawberry pickers were facing numerous violations of their rights, including harassment by 'labour providers', dangerous transport and belowminimum wages, 56 linked to their extreme disempowerment in relation to men.…”

Reward Work, Not Wealth: To end the inequality crisis, we must build an economy for ordinary working people, not the rich and powerful

“…-The ILO Indonesia and Vietnam. 69 Minimum wages are also poorly enforced, and the enforcement is worse for women than for men.…”

“…245 Oxfam has shown that minimum wages in countries like Morocco, Kenya, Indonesia and Vietnam are not enough for people to escape poverty. 246 The Asia Floor Wage Alliance has found that legal minimum wages in the garment sectors in various Asian countries fall far short of providing a living wage (see There is a similar situation in many parts of Africa and Latin America, where Oxfam has long advocated for a rise in minimum wages. Very low minimum wages in countries like Guatemala and Honduras directly explain the very high numbers of working poor.…”