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The embodied waste laborer: Waste, value and labor among Pakistani workers in Hong Kong’s informal street market

Terence Chun Tat Shum

Asian and Pacific Migration Journal2026https://doi.org/10.1177/01171968261421906article
ABDC C
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

This article examines value creation among Pakistani waste laborers in an informal street market in Hong Kong. Framing waste as latent value, it explores how domestic waste (electronics, appliances, household items) is revalued through processes of collection, sorting, and resale. Often marginalized, these ethnic minority workers are central to transforming waste into tradable goods and sustaining informal transnational networks. Introducing the concept of the “embodied waste laborer,” the article highlights their agency in reshaping the value of waste and challenging ethnic stigma, reframing it not as a sign of marginality but as a vital resource that affirms their roles and supports community resilience.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/01171968261421906

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{terence2026,
  title        = {{The embodied waste laborer: Waste, value and labor among Pakistani workers in Hong Kong’s informal street market}},
  author       = {Terence Chun Tat Shum},
  journal      = {Asian and Pacific Migration Journal},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/01171968261421906},
}

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The embodied waste laborer: Waste, value and labor among Pakistani workers in Hong Kong’s informal street market

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.