Foreign direct investment and its impact on human rights

Abstract

Abstract provided by author:

The study was aimed at a case study of Ramatex, which is a sizeable TNC, in an attempt to ascertain the extent to which human rights, particularly labour rights, have been observed. However, the company has not responded to various attempts for an interview. Questionnaires were used to interview stakeholders, research reports on Ramatex, particularly from the Labour Resource and Research Institute [LARRI] as well as other secondary sources. The findings point to adherence to labour legislation, albeit reluctantly, by Ramatex, but at the same time, there is a strong defense for Ramatex, spearheaded by the government itself, acting in many instances as the "spokesperson" of the company, reaffirming the "power play" by the company behind the scenes to force government to defend the company

The findings are significant, albeit not new, and would indeed serve a useful purpose in raising trade union and worker awareness on how TNC's operate. Equally, it serves to point to the fact that tensions increase under these conditions, where companies do not feel accountable to, or responsible for the local community it operates within, and that policy makers be alive to this reality