Local outcomes of globalization: manufacturing decline and labor response in the Philippine garment and shoe industries

In the past few decades, globalisation has led to major international shifts in labour intensive manufacturing generating ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ among countries, industries and workers. This paper uses case studies of the shoe industry in Marikina City and the garments sector in Metro Manila in order to illustrate how international shifts in production affect the position of low skilled workers in the Philippines. Both industries are confronted with different outcomes of globalisation but have a similarity where both lead to massive displacement of workers. This paper provides an overview of the decline in both sectors and what initiatives workers undertake to sustain their employment within these sectors. Furthermore, this paper will identify how this affects the agenda for research on industrial relations within the Philippines.