Gender inequalities in rural labour markets: the role of corporate social responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 31 August 2022
Issue publication date: 13 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of the global memorandum of understanding (GMoU) on women’s involvement in rural labour market in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts a survey research technique, aimed at gathering information from a representative sample of the population, as it is essentially cross-sectional, describing and interpreting the current situation. A total of 768 respondents were sampled across the rural areas of the Niger Delta region.
Findings
The results from the use of a combined propensity score matching and logit model indicate that CSR of the MOCs using GMoU model has recorded little but significant success in improving women’s participation in the labour market by freeing women’s time through labour-saving technologies and the provision of public services, raising women’s capital through education, eliminating discriminatory employment practices and capitalizing on public works programmes.
Practical implications
This suggest that the underlining causes of gender inequality in rural labour markets are institutional, including both social norms and the structure of labour market organizations, and can be holistically tackled through CSR programmes, government policies and building the strength of women in labour organizations.
Social implications
This implies that reducing rural poverty requires not just the barriers to women’s participation in decent employment but also aiming for a policy that helps to change people’s perceptions of what is possible, beneficial and fair; fosters cooperative action; and strengthens women’s bargaining power in the work place, the home and the market place.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the gender debate in agriculture from a CSR perspective in developing countries and rationale for demands for social project by host communities. It concludes that business has an obligation to help in solving problems of public concern.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author(s) are indebted to the editor and reviewers for constructive comments.
Citation
Uduji, J.I. and Okolo-Obasi, E.N. (2023), "Gender inequalities in rural labour markets: the role of corporate social responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 17 No. 6, pp. 1252-1274. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-05-2022-0073
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited