University of Twente Student Theses
The role of informal economy on the Quality of Life of informal Batik workers. A case study in an urban Kampung, Indonesia.
Oke, Kazeem (2021) The role of informal economy on the Quality of Life of informal Batik workers. A case study in an urban Kampung, Indonesia.
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| Abstract: | Understanding the role of informal employment on the Quality of Life (QoL) of workers in the garment industry has been challenging over the years. Although attempts have been made to explore walkability linked to the QoL of garment workers in the past, others have focused on the exposure of garment workers. However, studies have not established the relationship and characteristics of informal employment and its influence on workers’ QoL in the garment industry, specifically on Batik workers in Indonesia. Therefore, this study seeks to understand how informal employment in the Batik business influences the QoL of its informal workers in Bandung, Indonesia. In researching the aim, a sequential method was adopted. A systematic literature review using inclusion and exclusion criteria to select 14 publications from four scientific databases, then analysed as the first phase of the method to understand the relationship between informal employment and QoL in the garment industry. In the second phase, the findings from the review were operationalised through a primary data collection by administering questionnaires to 36 Batik workers and taking personal notes in an urban Kampung to investigate the impact of informal employment in the Batik industry on the QoL of its workers. The findings from the studied case revealed that informal employment does not necessarily translate into negative characterisation and dissatisfaction with some QoL domains, as highlighted in some literature. In fact, most Batik workers with informal employment are more satisfied with domains like health, social, psychological, and physical environment than individuals with formal Batik employment. The income domain has been challenging on both employment status, but informal employment workers tend to be more dissatisfied with this domain. Formal and informal Batik employment status has positive and negative factors such as working tools, flexibility of employment, low income, health exposure, work benefits and passion for the job. These factors influence the QoL satisfaction of the workers. There are variations on how QoL domains of formal, informal and various types of informal employment workers in the garment industry are influenced. The study has established the relationship that exists between informal employment and QoL in the garment industry. Also, it contributed towards using scientific results to change the negative narrative that is often attributed to informality. Finally, this study has opened up more research questions, discussions, and issues that often influence workers' QoL, especially the vulnerable individuals in the garment industry. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | ITC: Faculty of Geo-information Science and Earth Observation |
| Programme: | Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation MSc (75014) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/88983 |
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