The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Globalization has integrated domestic economies with the world market, leading to intense competition among producers. To remain competitive, firms often adopt cost-cutting measures, significantly impacting labour markets. This has resulted in a shift towards "labour flexibility," where the traditional security of permanent employment is often replaced by temporary or casual arrangements.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Due to intense competition brought about by globalization, employers seek to minimize costs and maximize adaptability to fluctuating market demand. Consequently, most employers prefer to employ workers "flexibly" (on short-term contracts or casual basis) rather than on a permanent basis. This allows firms to hire and fire based on immediate requirements, reducing the burden of providing social security benefits associated with permanent jobs.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The benefits of globalization have not been distributed uniformly. While consumers have benefited from lower prices and greater choices, and large multinational corporations have maximized profits, workers-particularly in the manufacturing sector-have not uniformly received the largest share of benefits. In many cases, real wages have stagnated, and job security has declined due to the shift towards flexible employment.
- Statement 3 is Correct: In export-oriented industries like garments, producers face pressure from large multinational buyers to deliver products quickly and cheaply. To meet strict deadlines and seasonal peaks, workers are often required to put in very long working hours and work night shifts. This is a common characteristic of supply chains in globalized industries.
Key Takeaway: Globalization has led to the "informalization" of the workforce within the organized sector, characterized by a shift from permanent tenure to flexible employment to reduce production costs.