LABOUR JUSTICE SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Mega Tourism Projects and

LABOUR JUSTICE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Mega Tourism Projects and Labour Supply Chains - A Formula for ‘Sustainable Exploitation’? Presenter: Stephanie Chok June 2009 Asia Research Centre This research is funded by Murdoch University, WA and the Sustainable Tourism CRC, Australia

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT or SUSTAINABILITY BEWARE! A VALUE-LADEN Concept In SD debate, tug-of-war over what is to be ‘sustained’ (biodiversity or economic growth? ) and how (preventive measures or user-pays? ) essentially contestation of diverse and/or competing values (Dresner 2002, p. 64)

Different Sustainability Positions Very weak (a traditionally resource exploitative perspective) to the very strong (an extreme preservationist perspective) Hunter (1997: 853)

V Weak to V Strong Sustainability Positions (Hunter 1997) VERY WEAK *Anthropocentric & utilitarian *Resource Exploitative *Resource conservationist *No limits to growth: Continued well-being assured through economic growth and technical innovation *Growth managed and modified. Concern for distribution of development costs and benefits through intra-and intergenerational equity *Decoupling negative environmental impacts from economic growth STRONG VERY STRONG *(Eco)systems perspective *Bioethical and eco-centric *Resource preservationist *Zero economic and population growth Belief in a steady-state economy *Adherence to intra- and inter-generational equity *Recognizes primary value of maintaining functional integrity of ecosystems over and above secondary value through human resource utilization *Extreme resource preservationist – utilization of natural resources minimized *Anti-economic growth and reduced human population

The Crisis: Widespread acceptance at general framework level but fierce political contest over its actual implementation (Macbeth 2005; Jacobs 1999)

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM A Clash of Contested Concepts Assumption: ST is ‘the same’ as SD – just apply to tourism; Critical Distinction: Difference between sustaining development that contributes to (human and non-human) welfare and sustaining tourism development per se. For e. g. meeting the needs of present tourists is not an SD objective; Majority of the world’s population does not participate in tourism - poses significant challenges to sustainable development’s equity principles.

EQUITY: Fulcrum of Sustainability INTER- and INTRA-GENERATIONAL EQUITY Precautionary Policy Approach (Fennell & Ebert 2004) Participatory Democracy (Mog 2004; Dale 2001; Macbeth 1997; Holcombe 1995; ) Ecological Protection & Enhancement (Dale 2001; Robinson & Tinker 1996) Recognition of Complex, Adaptive Systems (Farrell & Twinning-Ward 2005) SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES Steady-State Economics (Daly 2002; Dale 2001) Protection & Enhancement of Social & Cultural Capital (Dale 2001)

EQUITY: Fulcrum of Sustainability EQUITY: Implies need for FAIRNESS in distribution of gains & losses, and entitlement of everyone to an acceptable quality and standard of living (Beder 1996: 145) Necessitates Recognition of Gross Inequalities: Resources & Power REDISTRIBUTION/ REDISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE INTER- and INTRA-GENERATIONAL EQUITY SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLE

When Equity is Central, New Questions Emerge: Should an ‘eco-mall’ be celebrated if it’s constructed by an army of underpaid workers? What if an ‘environmentallyfriendly’ resort is built on land acquired by displacing local villagers? Are toxin-free ‘green’ products becoming exclusive ‘ecolabels’ only the wealthy can afford?

Mega Tourism Projects & Labour Supply Chains A Formula for ‘Sustainable Exploitation’?

WORKING CONDITIONS Long hours - 80 -90 hours a week; more then 350 hours a month; 24 hours shifts; 7 days a week; No overtime pay; Arbitrary deductions; Poor safety standards;

LIVING CONDITIONS

OTHER PROBLEMS Workplace Injuries – underreporting; compensation; Withheld wages; ‘Breach of contract’ fees; Oppressive Managerial Control: Withholding of key personal documents (work permits & passports); Threats: blacklisting; Repatriation (or threat of);

CHALLENGES Transnational Labour Migration Regime; Foreign Enterprises; Recruitment Agents in Sending & Receiving Countries; Transnational Corporate Law; Different legislative frameworks; Complex Labour Supply Chains; Main contractors, many sub-contractors; Inadequate Legislative Protection; Stratified migration regime; Pro-business, global political economy; Highly Politicized Issue; Controversial locally; Situation of STRUCTURAL INJUSTICE

STRUCTURAL INJUSTICE: Socio-political realities for low-wage (migrant) workers Average (Bangladeshi worker): Agency Fee is 2000% of salary; Will work 20 months just to pay off agency fee Average (Chinese worker): Agency Fee is 1000% of salary Will work 11 months just to pay off agency fee

IMPLICATIONS ‘TOURISM INDUSTRY’: ‘World’s largest industry’; ‘World’s largest employer’; Complex & fragmented supply chains; Wide-reaching impacts; Emphasis on ‘mega projects’ to stimulate economic figures & provide jobs; ‘Pro-poor Tourism’ emphasis on Development: At what cost and to whom? Development in what manner?

FINAL QUESTIONS: Is ‘sustainable tourism’ fuelling ‘sustainable exploitation’? (‘Virtuous’ or ‘Vicious’ Cycle? ) Are we exacerbating inequalities? How? If we are not part of the solution, are we contributing to the problem? Why is Equity NOT recognized as a fundamental sustainability principle IN PRACTICE? (who stands to gain the most from this ‘blind spot’? ) What are the consequences of ignoring the Equity Principle in Sustainable Development and ‘Sustainable Tourism’? VALUES in ST: What values? Whose values? Who stands to gain? Who loses?

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! Acknowledgements: • This research is funded by Murdoch University and the Sustainable Tourism CRC. • This research project is supervised by Associate Professor Jim Macbeth & Associate Professor Carol Warren, School of Social Sciences & Humanities, Murdoch University.

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