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Global supply chains (GSCs) have become an integral part of the global economy, changing the patterns of trade, investment, and production in global industries. While the rise of GSCs poses new opportunities and challenges to workers, its impacts have yet to be fully understood. Building on a growing body of literature on GSCs and labour standards, this paper examines how the emergence and change of the fragmented cross-national production system affects social upgrading in developing countries, focusing on the impact of private governance on labour conditions and workers' rights. It discusses emerging trends in GSCs during the post-crisis period and their impacts on social upgrading, highlighting the unevenness of social upgrading and the role of global buyers in the differentiation of labour conditions among workers. The paper discusses the role of private voluntary standards in governing labour relations in GSCs, and their limitations and tensions with buyers' purchasing practices. It concludes with a discussion of the future of labour governance in GSCs in terms of improving the effectiveness of private governance and building a complementary and synergistic relationship across private, public and social governance for sustainable economic and social upgrading in GSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the major patterns and drivers of interlinked geographical and career mobilities of Indian-born researchers and scientists. Based on a global survey of 4,600 Indian researchers and 40 in-depth interviews, this study provides evidence on the internationalisation of careers and the diversification of destinations of Indian-born academics. Our survey indicates that about a third of all Indian researchers have some international study or professional experience at some stage of their career. Prime destinations are still the US, Canada, and the UK, but outside these 'academic core' destinations some new European and East Asian destinations are emerging and are expected to play a more prominent role in the future. Mobility of Indian researchers is mainly driven by an intrinsic motivation to internationalise their scientific careers, but has also to do with the status quo of the research environment in India. Moving abroad enables researchers to acquire expertise in a field of research that is not sufficiently developed back home, and provides exposure to research facilities and personnel deemed better and more qualified than those back home. In this respect, international study and work experience are often perceived of as providing professional merits which are instrumental in career progression upon return to India. This happens through the acquisition of tangible -- specialisation, access to new networks and funding -- and immaterial resources: 'know-how', quality and reputation of degrees and work experience, new managerial skills. This study also sheds some light on the role of destination countries' immigration policies, which seems to play a minor role in the mobility decisions of Indian scientists. However, even if researchers do not really take migration policies into account in their decision making process, we cannot conclude that heir international mobility is barrier-free. Immigration policies and rights to work may affect the mobility of scientists rather indirectly by influencing the recruitment decisions of employers and departments in destination countries, without the candidates themselves being aware of these criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the promotion of integration for migrant domestic workers in Europe. Among the topics discussed are gender, employment and migration, growth of domestic work and women migrants' participation, and migrant domestic worker profiles. Information regarding the country's labour market integration, job instability, underemployment, substandard working conditions is presented.

This paper begins by providing the historical context for the study of the link between productivity and wages and the role of unions in Japan since 1980. Using quantitative data from a variety of surveys conducted by the Japanese Government and qualitative data from field research, it then documents significant changes in the nature of Japanese unions and Shunto wage bargaining and their role in generating the link between productivity and wages during Japan's "Lost Decade" and subsequent quiet recovery. Wages did not lag behind productivity growth during the "Japanese Miracle" that preceded the "Lost Decade" thanks in part to the contribution of an effective neutral third-party institution trusted by all parties to the development of a share economy with strong cooperation between labour and management and a strong link between wages and productivity. During the "Lost Decade", wages started to fall behind productivity growth, however. Negotiations over base wage increases (base-up) were less pervasive, and negotiations over bonuses took centre stage. The idea of establishing the market for annual wage settlements became less relevant, suggesting the diminishing value of the Shunto synchronization of wage negotiations. In the end, the Japanese bonus system proved to be less downward rigid than the base wage, and this downward flexibility of bonuses appears to be a major factor in lagging wages (along with an insufficient increase in the base wage when productivity rises). The possibility that the changing nature of Japanese enterprise unions was an underlying cause of lagging wages is explored, and policy implications are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the second half of the twentieth century, Brazilian and Paraguayan 'national' land policies reshaped 'local' social relations in both countries, especially in the eastern region of Paraguay. Between the 1960s and 1970s, the Brazilian land policies implemented to attract internal migrants for the development the central-eastern region followed a pattern of failures that motivated peasants and small farmers to leave the region. In the meantime, Paraguay was introducing a series of land policies to attract Brazilian migrants to develop the eastern side of Paraguay through the development of agriculture. Although Paraguay would achieve its objectives, land policies' changes in the 1980s stimulated Brazilians to leave the country returning to Brazil. As a result of the migration processes led by land policies in both countries, Brazilian migrants returned to Brazil as self-defined Brasiguaios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of the background and assessment of the Employment Permit System (EPS) in the Republic of Korea. It mentions that the EPS is an example of temporary labour migration programme that functions by the bilateral government-to-government memoranda of understanding (MOU) at full exclusion. It states that the EPS was designed to stem the human rights abuses, extortion and corruption characteristic of recruitment based on private sector.

The article offers information on the promotion of integration for migrant domestic workers in Belgium. Among the topics discussed are the history of migration policy, irregularity and regularization in Belgium, and breakdown of foreign population and migration in Belgium. Information regarding the country's labour market integration, multiple types of domestic workers, and opportunities for migrant workers in its sector is presented.

The article offers information on the promotion of integration for migrant domestic workers in Italy. Among the topics discussed are the drivers and effect of growing domestic work sector, immigration policies and their role in domestic sector development, and the socio-demographic profile of domestic workers in Italy. Information regarding the country's domestic workers, families and welfare structure, living and working conditions, and labour rights and employment conditions is presented.