Labour migration from Mozambique to South Africa, with special reference to the Delagoa Bay hinterland, c. 1862 to 1897
Numerous studies have portrayed migrant labour in South Africa as a mechanism of super-exploitation whereby capital, in alliance with the state, had only to pay the worker a bachelor wage because of his subsistence base in the rural areas. Migrant labour was thus synonymous with underdevelopment. This thesis postulates that the origins of migrant labour cannot be sought in these terms. Because of the highly competitive nature of the labour market during the 19th century, employers were concerned only with securing an adequate supply of labour. Much of this labour was drawn from geographically distant areas because the local population was able to market the product of its labour rather than the labour itself. Weak and impecunious colonial and republican states were hesitant to intervene directly in the labour market and did so only during times of economic expansion or when a non-interventionist policy threatened the stability of the state. In the second part of the thesis, which deals with the Delagoa Bay hinterland of Mozambique, it is argued that a migrant form of labour arose out of the needs of the rural community rather than those of mining capital. Wages became the nutrient for survival in a harsh environment
Harries, Patrick
History
Labour migration from Mozambique to South Africa, with special reference to the Delagoa Bay hinterland, c. 1862 to 1897. Numerous studies have portrayed migrant labour in South Africa as a mechanism of super-exploitation whereby capital, in alliance with the state, had only to pay the worker a bachelor wage because of his subsistence base in the rural areas. Migrant labour was thus synonymous with underdevelopment. This thesis postulates that the origins of migrant labour cannot be sought in these terms. Because of the highly competitive nature of the labour market during the 19th century, employers were concerned only with securing an adequate supply of labour. Much of this labour was drawn from geographically distant areas because the local population was able to market the product of its labour rather than the labour itself. Weak and impecunious colonial and republican states were hesitant to intervene directly in the labour market and did so only during times of economic expansion or when a non-interventionist policy threatened the stability of the state. In the second part of the thesis, which deals with the Delagoa Bay hinterland of Mozambique, it is argued that a migrant form of labour arose out of the needs of the rural community rather than those of mining capital. Wages became the nutrient for survival in a harsh environment
labour migration mozambique south_africa special_reference hinterland numerous study portray migrant labour south_africa mechanism super exploitation whereby capital alliance state pay worker bachelor wage subsistence base rural_area migrant labour thus synonymous underdevelopment postulate origin migrant labour sought term highly competitive nature labour_market employer concern secure adequate supply labour much labour drawn geographically distant area local_population able market product labour rather labour itself weak colonial republican state intervene directly labour_market time economic_expansion non interventionist policy threaten stability state second_part deal hinterland mozambique argue migrant form labour arise needs rural_community rather mining capital become nutrient survival harsh environment