Industrial promises, employment precarity, and disrupted production in the shadow of global pandemics

Industrial Parks (IPs) in Africa, especially Ethiopia’s Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP), are seen as vital for boosting exports, creating jobs, and enhancing skills. However, the global pandemic’s disruptions to production and employment prompt a reevaluation of this view. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic research conducted at Ethiopia’s flagship state-owned IP, the HIP, we delve into the multidimensional crises faced by the country’s industry during the pandemic. We identify various methods employed by the Ethiopian government to persuade workers into accepting disproportionately low wages, with the aim of retaining foreign investors and stabilizing the national economy. Our analysis reveals the reinforcement of precarious livelihoods among HIP workers, characterized by heightened vulnerability and job insecurity due to the pandemic-induced disruptions. Contrary to the state’s depiction of HIP as an emblem of industrial progress, workers at HIP champion narratives and strategies to assert their rights and improve working conditions. This research underscores the importance of reimagining Africa’s industrialization strategy, emphasizing the well-being of its labor force in a post-pandemic world.