4 - Skills Development in the Multinational Corporate Sector: Building Employee Capacity Beyond the Factory Gate
Corresponding Author(s) : Joseph O. Jiboku
African Sociological Review,
Vol. 23 No. 2 (2019): African Sociological Review
Abstract
The dearth of skills for socio – economic transformation in Africa partly explains the drive by African countries to attract investments by multinational corporations (MNCs). The quest for skills has also been fuelled by the challenges posed by a fast globalising world economy. However, while the literature is replete with analyses of liberal policies and incentives offered to encourage investment by multinational corporations, little scholarly attention appears to have been paid to the need to incorporate MNC skills policies and programmes into the national skills agenda, and vice versa. Nigeria offers an example of how nearly a century of MNC operations has not resulted in any meaningful acquisition of strategic, as opposed to merely high level, skills by national employees. Skills disparities abound between local and expatriate employees within the same MNC operations. It is against this backdrop that this paper examines the discourse on multinational corporations and skills development and makes a case for the incorporation of multinational skills policies and strategies into the national skills development pathway, and vice versa, in line with the broader objectives of national human capital development. The paper’s central argument is that skills development must go beyond empowering employees to be ‘useful’ only within the context of a given company’s industrial operations. It is based on interviews conducted with managers and employees in selected multinational companies as well as with government agencies concerned with skills development in Nigeria.
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- Agbodike, C.C., 1998, ‘Foreign investments and the Nigerian economy: The role of multinational corporations’, Nigerian Journal of Economic History, 1. 162 – 169.
- Ajibola, M. T., 2012, ‘Human capital development and Nigerian economy’, The Punch, 18th September.
- Babbie, E and Mouton, J., 2001, The Practice of Social Research, Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.
- Bakan, J., 2004, The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. New York, FP Free Press.
- Blomstrom, M. and Kokko, A., 2001, ‘FDI, human capital and education in developing countries’, Technical Meeting, 13 – 14 December 2001, Paris. OECD Development Centre.
- Brewer, L., 2013, Enhancing Youth Employability: What? Why? and How? – Guide to Core Work Skills. Geneva: Skills and Employability Department International Labour Organization.
- Chase, K. A., 2004, ‘From protectionism to regionalism: Multinational firms and trade – related Investment Measures’, In Business and Politics Vol. 6(2). 2004.
- Dulupcu, M.A. and Demirel, O., 2009. ‘Globalisation and internationalization’, Economy and Labour World, Isparta 2003 – 2009. Socrates Comenius. A Research Report submitted to the European Commission.
- Ejere, E.S.I., 2011, ‘Human capital formation as catalyst for National Development: Nigerian perspective’, International Business and Management Journal Vol 2 (2), 98 – 104.
- Erunke, C. and Kigbu, H., 2012, ‘Globalization, multinational corporation and the Nigerian economy’, International Journal of Social Science Tomorrow, 1(2). April 2012.
- Greenaway, D., 1992, ‘Trade Related Investment Measures and development strategy’, Kyklos, 45(2), 139 – 159.
- Guisinger, S. E., 1986, ‘Do performance requirements and investment incentives work?’, World economy, 9(1):79 – 96.
- International Labour Office, 2008,‘Skills for improved productivity, employment growth and development’, International Labour Conference, 2008. Geneva: ILO.
- Kapstein, E.B.,2002,‘Virtuous circles? Human capital formation, economic development and the multinational enterprises’, OECD Working Paper No. 191. Research Programme on Global Interdependence and Income Distribution, August 2002. CD/DOC (2002) 03. 1 – 21.
- Katseli, L.T., 2003, ‘Human capital formation and foreign direct investment in developing countries’, OECD Development Centre Working Paper No. 211, DEV/DOC(2003)09. OECD. Paris.
- Khilji, B.A., Kakar, Z.K. and Subhan, S., 2012, ‘Impact of vocational training and skill development on economic growth in Pakistan’, World Applied Sciences Journal 17(10), 2012. 1298 – 1302.
- Latif, A.A., 2011, ‘Change and continuity in the International Intellectual Property System: A turbulent decade in perspective’, The WIPO Journal Volume 3 (1). 36 – 54.
- Martinez – Fernandez, C. and Sharpe, S., 2010, Leveraging Training and Skills Development in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES): Preliminary Cross – country Analysis of the TSME Survey. Paris: OECD Publishing.
- Mason, J., 2002, Qualitative Researching (2nd edition). London: Sage.
- Muogbo, C. O. and Kayar, F., 2012, ‘Improving the investment climate in Nigeria: Issues and policy options’, Unpublished M. Sc Thesis submitted to the Universitetet i Nordland. (Accessed 10 August 2013).
- Navaretti, G.B. and Venables, A.J., 2004, Multinational Firms in the World Economy. New Jersey, USA: Princeton University Press.
- Organisation for Economic Co – Operation and Development (OECD), 2010, Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD Development Centre. Organisation for Economic Co – Operation and Development (OECD), 2012, Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD Development Centre.
- Ogunade, A.O., 2011, ‘Human capital investment in the developing world: An analysis of praxis’, Labour Research Seminar Series, 2011. Available: http/www.uri.edu/research/papers/Ogunade_Workforce_ Devt.pdf. (Accessed: 11 May 2012). 2 – 13.
- Ogundele, O.J.K. and Abiola, J.O., 2012, ‘Entrepreneurship and national development : A proposal for evangelistic agenda’, European Scientific Journal, March edition, 8(6) 134 – 148 .
- Pope C, and Mays, N., 2000, Qualitative Research in Health Care. London: BMJ Books. Prasad, S. B, Pisani, M.J., and Prasad, R.M., 2008, ‘New criticism of international management: Analytical review’, International Business Review. 17(6), 2008. 617 – 629.
- Quintini, G., 2011, ‘Over – qualified or under – skilled: A review of existing literature’ OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No. 121. Paris: OECD.
- Stiglitz, J. E., 2002, ‘Employment, social justice and societal well – being’, International Labour Review, 141(1/2), 2002. 9 – 29.
- Stiglitz, J.E., 2007, ‘Regulating multinational corporations: Towards principles of cross – border legal frameworks in a globalised world – Balancing rights with responsibilities’, American University Law Review, 23(3).
- Toner, P., 2011, Workforce Skills and Innovation: An Overview of Major Themes in the Literature. Paris: OECD Secretariat.
- Umo, J.U., (ed)., 1996, Towards Full Employment Strategy in Nigeria. Lagos: National Manpower Board.
References
Agbodike, C.C., 1998, ‘Foreign investments and the Nigerian economy: The role of multinational corporations’, Nigerian Journal of Economic History, 1. 162 – 169.
Ajibola, M. T., 2012, ‘Human capital development and Nigerian economy’, The Punch, 18th September.
Babbie, E and Mouton, J., 2001, The Practice of Social Research, Cape Town, South Africa: Oxford University Press.
Bakan, J., 2004, The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power. New York, FP Free Press.
Blomstrom, M. and Kokko, A., 2001, ‘FDI, human capital and education in developing countries’, Technical Meeting, 13 – 14 December 2001, Paris. OECD Development Centre.
Brewer, L., 2013, Enhancing Youth Employability: What? Why? and How? – Guide to Core Work Skills. Geneva: Skills and Employability Department International Labour Organization.
Chase, K. A., 2004, ‘From protectionism to regionalism: Multinational firms and trade – related Investment Measures’, In Business and Politics Vol. 6(2). 2004.
Dulupcu, M.A. and Demirel, O., 2009. ‘Globalisation and internationalization’, Economy and Labour World, Isparta 2003 – 2009. Socrates Comenius. A Research Report submitted to the European Commission.
Ejere, E.S.I., 2011, ‘Human capital formation as catalyst for National Development: Nigerian perspective’, International Business and Management Journal Vol 2 (2), 98 – 104.
Erunke, C. and Kigbu, H., 2012, ‘Globalization, multinational corporation and the Nigerian economy’, International Journal of Social Science Tomorrow, 1(2). April 2012.
Greenaway, D., 1992, ‘Trade Related Investment Measures and development strategy’, Kyklos, 45(2), 139 – 159.
Guisinger, S. E., 1986, ‘Do performance requirements and investment incentives work?’, World economy, 9(1):79 – 96.
International Labour Office, 2008,‘Skills for improved productivity, employment growth and development’, International Labour Conference, 2008. Geneva: ILO.
Kapstein, E.B.,2002,‘Virtuous circles? Human capital formation, economic development and the multinational enterprises’, OECD Working Paper No. 191. Research Programme on Global Interdependence and Income Distribution, August 2002. CD/DOC (2002) 03. 1 – 21.
Katseli, L.T., 2003, ‘Human capital formation and foreign direct investment in developing countries’, OECD Development Centre Working Paper No. 211, DEV/DOC(2003)09. OECD. Paris.
Khilji, B.A., Kakar, Z.K. and Subhan, S., 2012, ‘Impact of vocational training and skill development on economic growth in Pakistan’, World Applied Sciences Journal 17(10), 2012. 1298 – 1302.
Latif, A.A., 2011, ‘Change and continuity in the International Intellectual Property System: A turbulent decade in perspective’, The WIPO Journal Volume 3 (1). 36 – 54.
Martinez – Fernandez, C. and Sharpe, S., 2010, Leveraging Training and Skills Development in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES): Preliminary Cross – country Analysis of the TSME Survey. Paris: OECD Publishing.
Mason, J., 2002, Qualitative Researching (2nd edition). London: Sage.
Muogbo, C. O. and Kayar, F., 2012, ‘Improving the investment climate in Nigeria: Issues and policy options’, Unpublished M. Sc Thesis submitted to the Universitetet i Nordland. (Accessed 10 August 2013).
Navaretti, G.B. and Venables, A.J., 2004, Multinational Firms in the World Economy. New Jersey, USA: Princeton University Press.
Organisation for Economic Co – Operation and Development (OECD), 2010, Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD Development Centre. Organisation for Economic Co – Operation and Development (OECD), 2012, Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD Development Centre.
Ogunade, A.O., 2011, ‘Human capital investment in the developing world: An analysis of praxis’, Labour Research Seminar Series, 2011. Available: http/www.uri.edu/research/papers/Ogunade_Workforce_ Devt.pdf. (Accessed: 11 May 2012). 2 – 13.
Ogundele, O.J.K. and Abiola, J.O., 2012, ‘Entrepreneurship and national development : A proposal for evangelistic agenda’, European Scientific Journal, March edition, 8(6) 134 – 148 .
Pope C, and Mays, N., 2000, Qualitative Research in Health Care. London: BMJ Books. Prasad, S. B, Pisani, M.J., and Prasad, R.M., 2008, ‘New criticism of international management: Analytical review’, International Business Review. 17(6), 2008. 617 – 629.
Quintini, G., 2011, ‘Over – qualified or under – skilled: A review of existing literature’ OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No. 121. Paris: OECD.
Stiglitz, J. E., 2002, ‘Employment, social justice and societal well – being’, International Labour Review, 141(1/2), 2002. 9 – 29.
Stiglitz, J.E., 2007, ‘Regulating multinational corporations: Towards principles of cross – border legal frameworks in a globalised world – Balancing rights with responsibilities’, American University Law Review, 23(3).
Toner, P., 2011, Workforce Skills and Innovation: An Overview of Major Themes in the Literature. Paris: OECD Secretariat.
Umo, J.U., (ed)., 1996, Towards Full Employment Strategy in Nigeria. Lagos: National Manpower Board.