Human rights in work places: a case study of women workers in the export processing zones of Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is one of Africa's largest producers of garments and apparel, a sector of industry that is currently undergoing tremendous expansion. In large part, this recent growth has been largely fueled by United States (U.S.) laws promoting trade with Africa. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), passed in 2000, and a revised law in 2002, provides for tariff and quota-free imports for a range of products, dependent on a number of conditions. Among these is the requirement that African countries make continual progress towards protecting international core labour rights. It is however unclear, whether this progress is taking place. In January 2003, reports emerged of widespread labour unrest and prevalent violations of core labour rights in Kenya's apparel factories, especially in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Also, Kenyan industrial law has created explicit exemptions for factories operating in the EPZs and EPZ factory owners are shielded from enforcement of health and safety laws by limiting inspections in those factories. National labour laws fail to protect women workers, specifically due to their inadequate implementation; the impact of trade agreements (such as the Multifibre Arrangement MFA!) on production patterns gives rise to increasingly precarious employment;