How the phase-out of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement impacted health in countries reliant on the textile and clothing sector

This presentation will discuss findings from a study which investigated the health impacts of a major trade liberalization episode in the textile and clothing (T&C) sector: the phase-out of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement in 2005. This phase-out shifted production patterns in a sector which is an important source of employment in many middle- and low-income countries, especially for women. Public health research suggests that labour market and social policies play an important role in mediating the relationship between employment and health. Therefore, data from 32 T&C reliant countries were analysed in reference to the pre- and post-MFA periods of 2000-2004 and 2005-2009. Fuzzy-set qualitative analysis (fsQCA) was used to examine the association between a) T&C employment changes, b) countries’ level of labour market and welfare state protections and c) changes in adult female and infant mortality rates. FsQCA is a cross-case analytical method which enables logical statements to be made about the combinations of causal conditions that are sufficient for a given outcome. This analysis finds that seven combinations of causal conditions are sufficient for changes in adult female and infant mortality rates. These combinations of conditions are further investigated through in-depth case study work using process tracing methods. Process tracing results suggest that the worsening of adult female mortality rates is related to T&C workers’ inability to access labour market and welfare state protections.