Trade union change, development and renewal in emerging economies: the case of Mozambique

Citation

Dibben, P. (2011), "Trade union change, development and renewal in emerging economies: the case of Mozambique", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 25 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/dlo.2011.08125bad.004

Trade union change, development and renewal in emerging economies: the case of Mozambique

Article Type: Abstracts From: Development and Learning in Organizations, Volume 25, Issue 2

Dibben P.Work Employment & Society, September 2010, Vol. 24 No. 3, Start page: 468, No. of pages: 19

Declining membership levels in industrialised and emerging economies have generated debate about the role and potential impact of trade unions and the most appropriate strategies for union renewal. In post-conflict countries within Africa, a re-evaluation of the trade union role is particularly pressing, given the impact of privatisation and restructuring on employment and the large informal sector workforce. Strategies for renewal in advanced economies include the organising model and community unionism, but to what extent are these strategies of value in emerging economies? This article draws on exploratory research in Mozambique to examine union change and development in the context of adversity and the possibilities of, and progress towards, union renewal. Findings reveal some progress on employment rights and engagement with the informal sector. However, future prospects rely on broader economic and institutional changes: improvements in infrastructure; better enforcement of employment legislation; and transition from informal to formal sector work.Article type: Research paperISSN: 0950-0170Reference: 39BB003

Keywords: Mozambique, Trade union renewal