Garment homework in Argentina: Drawing together the threads of informal and precarious work

Abstract

This article explores and applies Kalleberg’s concept and dimensions of precarious work in relation to garment homework in Argentina. Although precarious work exists across formal and informal employment, its nature and dimensions are most commonly researched in relation to formal work in developed economies where the loss of standard conditions can be documented. Similarly, homework is most usually discussed as a category of informal work, in the context of developing countries, within which precariousness is one among numerous aspects of adverse job quality. Applying the concept of precariousness enables homework to be assessed systematically against specific labour standards, yielding a more powerful analysis than reference to a general deficit. This may increase our understanding of homework especially with regard to addressing labour standards.

What is precarious employment? A systematic review of definitions and operationalizations from quantitative and qualitative studies

“…A clear distinction should be made between individuals receiving social security based on their employment condition and those who receive it with no regard to their employment status. The qualitative studies included here highlight the need for PE workers to receive protection against unfair and authoritarian treatment -such as unjustifiable dismissal, discrimination, sexual harassment, and unacceptable working practices -the feeling of powerlessness to exercise their workplace rights, and mistrust towards the government for not providing support and transparency (36,65,69,71,78,81). Rights and protection comprise an especially complicated dimension when studying informal or migrant work.…”

“…Lack of unionization was primarily investigated as the existence of trade unions in the specific country under investigation and/or if the employees were in fact covered by a union (27,(58)(59)(60). An important feature emerging here is how workers' representation has declined over the years and how, in contrast, unionized workers have less risk of arbitrary dismissal compared to not unionized workers (27,69).…”

“…Two studies further distinguished between whether participants received medical insurance and social insurance (44,60). This goes hand in hand with lack of regulatory support for full benefits, where the effectiveness of labor policies and labor standards were questioned (64,69,76,82). Studies also investigated whether workers had access and/or power to exercise workplace rights such as, protection against unfair dismissal, protection from authoritarian treatment, discrimination or harassment (12,36,60,78,83).…”

“…Number of included studies according to study characteristics. One mixed method, one historical article tive observational studies(12,, while 18 were qualitative studies(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80)(81). Only one article conducted a mixed-methods approach(83) and one was an historical article(82).…”

Multiplying Labour, Multiplying Resistance: Class Composition in Buenos Aires’ Clandestine Textile Workshops

“…Buenos Aires’ textile industry is big business, employing over 300,000 Bolivian migrants in talleres clandestinos (clandestine workshops; Kabat et al ). But with “informal” employment as high as 80% (Burchielli et al ), and most production existing behind closed doors, the industry—often literally—remains underground: the vast majority of the 25,000 workshops are situated in the owners’ properties in the city’s villas miserias (informal settlements), with others hidden in more formal neighbourhoods (Montero Bressán and Arcos ). For this predominantly migrant workforce the hours are long (up to 16 hours a day, six days a week), the conditions punishing, and the pay less than half the minimum wage.…”