From the Publisher
“This insightful study of migrant labor regimes in Singapore’s construction industry goes far in explaining the relationship between the micro-politics of the workplace, and the political contestation of national labor regimes, demonstrating that even workers seemingly lacking in political leverage are nonetheless able to influence employers and governments in addressing their needs. The book offers an exemplary model for linking ethnography and political economy in understanding the world of subordinated work.” (Frederic C. Deyo, Professor of Sociology, SUNY Binghamton, USA)
“This book offers a new and insightful approach to understanding the politics of migrant labour regimes everywhere. It shows how dynamic links between particular ways of conducting and organising work and the wider political economy are pivotal to the limits and potentials of migrant workers’ struggles. This is a major intervention in the migrant labour literature.” (Garry Rodan, Director of the Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Australia)
“This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of production politics and political participation, as well as the relationships between the institutions of capitalism and individuals’ agency. Bal’s cogent multi-level theoretical argument, supported by high quality empirical data, shows how the politics of production in the construction industry in Singapore affect migrant workers’ strategies. This book will be of interest to those studying labor migrants, labor process theory, production politics, social movements and class.” (Arne L. Kalleberg, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US)
