A Global Sense of Workplace

Abstract

Abstract China-Africa relations are increasingly unfolding beyond government-to-government agreements and elite relations, as extensive engagement in infrastructure development demonstrates. This chapter explores labour relations in Sino-African construction sites to illuminate “practices in the making” emerging from said encounters. With a specific focus on the Lamu Port construction site in Northern Kenya, the chapter delves into the practice of “living at work.” The chapter reveals the spatial, material, and social dimensions of Sino-African workplace dynamics. Drawing from Doreen Massey’s conceptualization of place, the chapter advances a dynamic understanding of workplace relations at the intersection of narratives within and beyond Sino-African construction sites. Based on ethnographic observations and interviews conducted at Lamu Port, this contribution uncovers the nuanced intersections of labour relations, managerial practices, and social connections.