This article investigates reproductive work in the Global South which thrives on the commodification of women’s reproductive bodies under local-global reproductive hierarchies, appropriating the process of reproduction for production. Through a qualitative study of commercial surrogacy in north India, it examines the lived experiences of surrogates within the capitalist social relations they are embedded in. Conceptualising surrogacy as reproductive labour which contributes to value generation, the article assesses labour relations at the workplace, for example hostels where surrogates ‘live and work’, and the mechanisms of recruitment, contracting and control which function through dense networks of social and material relations between various stakeholders. The weak bargaining power of surrogates and the immense power of fertility clinics and agents are compounded by the lack of effective regulation and the state’s prohibitionist policy. The article argues for protecting the rights of surrogates as workers rather than the recent ban on surrogacy imposed in India.

本文研究了在南方－南部地区进行的生殖工作，这些工作在地方－全球生殖等级制度下促进了妇女生殖机构的商品化，并为生产进行了适当的繁殖。通过对印度北部商业代孕的定性研究，它考察了代孕在他们所嵌入的资本主义社会关系中的生活经验。将代孕概念化为有助于创造价值的生殖劳动，例如，本文评估了工作场所的劳动关系。代孕“生活和工作”的旅馆，以及通过各种利益相关者之间密集的社会和物质关系网络运作的招募，签约和控制机制。由于缺乏有效的监管和国家的禁令政策，代理人的讨价还价能力弱，生育诊所和特工的巨大能力使情况更加复杂。文章主张保护代理人作为工人的权利，而不是最近在印度实行的代孕禁令。