Required in stage
First term
Second term
Both terms
Not organised
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Taught by
Language of instruction
Duration
Identical coursesLabour Governance in Global Value Chains (B-KUL-S0K43A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contractAims
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
- Understand the underlying drivers and logics that explain the historical expansion and contraction of global value chains (GVCs);
- Understand how GVCs affect the nature of relations between firms in high, middle and low-income countries, resulting in differences in value capture, control over dependent firms and working conditions;
- Understand core features of labour markets in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), such as informality, precarious work, and thin governance;
- Apply a root cause analysis to assess how different dynamics in GVCs affect working conditions in LMICs;
- Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different types of labour governance configurations and initiatives in various geographies;
- Critically examine the role played by development cooperation in the promotion of decent work, including through the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
These aims will be communicated to the students at the start of the course.
Previous knowledge
At the beginning of this course the student has already achieved the following competencies:
- deal with new concepts and engage with literature in a critical way;
- critically read, process and prepare academic texts;
- read and analyse theoretical texts independently;
- write an academic text.
Is included in these courses of study
- Master in de vergelijkende en internationale politiek (programma voor studenten gestart vóór 2024-2025) (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master in de sociologie (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of Advanced Studies in European Policies and Public Administration (Leuven et al) 60 ects.
- Master of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Social Sciences (Leuven)
- Master of International Politics (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of Sociology (Leuven) (Solidarity and Social Risks in Europe) 60 ects.
- Master in de vergelijkende en internationale politiek (programma voor studenten gestart in 2024-2025 of later) (Leuven) 60 ects.
Activities
4 ects. Labour Governance in Global Value Chains (B-KUL-S0K43a)
Content
The course explores the governance of labour in global value chains (GVC) and how it affects working conditions in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). At the heart of the course is the concept of ‘social upgrading’: the improvement of worker’s rights and entitlements in global value chains. The course starts with a discussion of the underlying drivers and logics leading to the historical expansion of GVCs. A range of theoretical concepts are introduced (e.g. GVC-typologies, value capture, labour intermediation, geographical and sectoral specificities) to understand how the characteristics of different GVCs affect working conditions. Based on examples from various sectors (textiles, construction, ICT, agriculture, academic publishing, etc.), the course highlights the strengths and weaknesses of different types of labour governance in realizing social upgrading. Examples range from voluntary initiatives (codes of conduct, certification, and multi-stakeholder initiatives), through worker-driven initiatives and public procurement, to binding due diligence legislation. Attention is paid to how the effectiveness of these different governance types are affected by power dynamics in GVCs and by the nature of labour markets in LMICs (e.g. informality, precarious work, and surplus labour). The specific role played by institutions such as the International Labour Organisation and other institutions in global labour governance is critically examined. Finally, the growing interaction between social upgrading initiatives in GVCs and development cooperation is explored, including through leading international frameworks, such as the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Course material
- Course reader (combination of texts)
- Course slides
Format: more information
Group assignment - Guest lecture - Presentation
A combination of face to face lectures (by the teachers and guest speakers) and student group presentations during the semester around a selected list of questions and reading materials, with in-class discussions.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Labour Governance in Global Value Chains (B-KUL-S2K43a)
Explanation
Evaluation characteristics
The evaluation consists of two parts: a seminar with an oral presentation and submission of a short paper during the semester and a written closed book exam with 3 open questions during the examination period. For the paper, students will be obliged to follow the guidelines for responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) of KU Leuven, together with specific instructions provided at the start of the course.
Determination of the final result
The course is evaluated by the teacher, as announced via Toledo and the examination regulations. The result is calculated and expressed as an integer out of 20.
The final result is weighted: the seminar and the paper account for 35% of the final result, the written exam accounts for 65% of the final result. If the student does not participate in the seminar, the student cannot take part in the final exam and the final result for the whole course will be marked as NA (not attempted).
Second examination opportunity
The evaluation characteristics and the determination of the final result of the second examination opportunity can differ from those of the first examination opportunity. The modalities of the second examination opportunity will be communicated via Toledo in the beginning of July.