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Chinese Employers and Their Ugandan Workers: Tensions, Frictions and Cooperation in an African City

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  • Codrin Arsene

Abstract

This paper analyses the context in which a group of African workers interact with their Chinese employers within a specific ethno- graphic space: Chinese-owned shops in Kampala, Uganda. By exploring enjawulo, the locally embedded cultural, social and economic notion of work and labour, I reveal how relations between Chinese employers and Ugandan employees are shaped by the former’s knowledge and acceptance of this practice. This analytical lens contextualises the two groups’ divergent goals, opinions and aspirations, examines the interpersonal dimensions of their social relations, and also analyses employers’ and employees’ opinions on labour conflicts, cooperation and understanding. The goal of the paper is to explore and deconstruct the context in which Chinese store owners and their local employees interact, cohabit, and sometimes even find common ground, despite markedly different economic, social, cultural, racial and linguistic backgrounds.

Suggested Citation

  • Codrin Arsene, 2014. "Chinese Employers and Their Ugandan Workers: Tensions, Frictions and Cooperation in an African City," Journal of Current Chinese Affairs - China aktuell, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 43(1), pages 139-176.
    • Handle: RePEc:gig:chaktu:v:43:y:2014:i:1:p:139-176
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    File URL: http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jcca/article/view/726
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    1. Giles Mohan & May Tan-Mullins, 2009. "Chinese Migrants in Africa as New Agents of Development? An Analytical Framework," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 21(4), pages 588-605, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ding Fei & Abdi Ismail Samatar & Chuan Liao, 2018. "Chinese–African encounters in high†tech sectors: Comparative investigation of Chinese workplace regimes in Ethiopia," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(S1), pages 455-475, March.
    2. Wood, Geoffrey & Cooke, Fang Lee, 2023. "Transient entrepreneurs?: Chinese migrant small commercial businesses in South Africa," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(6).

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