Feminised recession: impact of the global financial crisis on women garment workers in the Philippines

Abstract

This article discusses the findings of Oxfam-commissioned research into the impact of the economic crisis on women garment workers in the Philippines. It provides policy recommendations aiming to ensure that measures put in place by the government and international bodies support the women workers who have seen their jobs lost or their working conditions worsen, and ensure that recovery measures support the goal of gender equality rather than working against this.

Keywords:

• financial crisis
• company closures
• job lay-offs
• women workers
• resilience

Acknowledgements

This article is based on research conducted for Oxfam GB Philippines by Kristina Gaerlan (team leader), Marion Cabrera and Patricia Samia, and edited by Ed L. Santoalla, economic justice policy analyst and research manager, Oxfam GB, Philippines.

Notes

1. Wet markets are where informal vendors sell fresh meat, fish and other farm produce. Compared with supermarkets or groceries, wet markets don't have refrigeration and vendors rely on blocks of ice to keep their goods from spoiling. This keeps the pavillions in which vendor stalls are situated in a state of constant ‘wetness’, hence the term.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kristina Gaerlan

Kristina N. Gaerlan, Research Team Leader, has been active in social development advocacy work since the 1980s and in feminist research since the 1990s

Marion Cabrera

Marion Bernadette G. Cabrera is programme coordinator for governance, communications, and democracy for Isis International

Patricia Samia

Patricia Morales-Samia, is an independent consultant specializing in social enterprise development and project development

Ed L. Santoalla

Ed Santoalla, project manager and editor, is Policy Analyst and Research Manager for the Economic Justice Programme of Oxfam in the Philippines