Employment and working conditions of low-skilled information-processing workers in less developed countries

Employment in computing and information processing in developing countries is growing fast. Many of the lower-skilled workers - especially data-entry clerks - are women. Drawing particularly on evidence from Brazil, Jamaica and Malaysia, the authors explore current and probable future trends in the employment of such workers, assess the expansion of data-processing employment both offshore and in public administration, and consider possible implications of future technological advances. They conclude with a survey of employment conditions in the industry, emphasizing the frequent precariousness of contractual and pay arrangements and the lack of effective protection against health hazards.