Is Disruptive Employee Behavior In Export Processing Zones (EPZs) Influenced By Their Employment In Firms Situated In Public Or Private Zones?

Abstract

The Kenyan government’s Export processing zone (EPZ) policy has conceded large parts of existing labour laws to EPZ investors. This article sets out to establish whether there is a difference in the working conditions employers in the public and private zones expose their workers to and from which zone possible disruptive employee behaviours emanate from. A random sample of 376 employees was selected from EPZ garment firms located in both private and public zones. Statistical procedures were applied to determine possible differences. The findings indicate that employees from companies in the private zones were exposed to better working conditions than those employed in companies located in the public zone, which explains why disruptive employee behaviour originates from the public zone. It is recommended that working conditions of companies in the pubic zone should be improved.

Opsomming
Die regering se uitvoerprosesseringsbeleid (EPZ) het toegewings in terme van bestaande arbeidswetgewing aan EPZ investeerders gedoen. Hierdie artikel het ten doel om vas te stel of daar ’n verskil bestaan in die werktoestande waaraan werkgewers in die openbare en private sones hulle werknemers blootstel en van watter sone moontlike ontwrigtende gedrag hul oorsprong het. ’n Ewekansige steekproef van 376 werknemers is uit EPZ kledingfirmas in beide die private en openbare sones getrek. Statistiese prosedures is gebruik om moontlike verskille te bepaal. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat werknemers van maatskappy uit private sones aan beter werkstoestande blootgestel is teenoor dié wat uit die publieke sone afkomstige is, wat ook verklaar waarom ontwrigtende gedrag uit die openbare sone onstaan. Dit word aanbeveel dat werktoestande van maatskappye in die openbare sone verbeter word.