Abstract

Special economic zones introduced and first run in the early 2000s were
done so with the goal of providing a sphere of untouched trade spots inside
countries but which operate on separate trade laws to further the goal of
better management, more investments, a conducive environment etc.
Despite being celebrated by the private sector, it was met with widespread
criticism especially because of the land acquisition policies that it employed
that left thousands displaced and homeless and put them in a cycle of
oppression via an employment and displacement cycle. Despite further
relaxations and provisions being made to meet those demands, victim
identification and issue redressal remain vastly undocumented and the chief
victims of the “land acquisition” by the government, namely, daily wage
laborers remain oppressed and not much better than their predecessors.

This project takes a look at the history of the policy in India, its effects on
trade and policy and the criticism that it met. Issues like the labor rights of
those affected by these zones are studied and a real life scenario is
described and contrasted. A comparative analysis of labor welfare in SEZ in
different countries is undertaken.