The rise of precarious work in Spain: the effects of the increase in labour market flexibility

The chapter discusses the party system in the macro context of politics. It highlights the limitations of political party and interest group analysis without reference to the political competition that shapes behaviour in politics. The chapter discusses theoretically the impact of party system on labour market flexibility and proceeds to show the interrelation between party competition and the behaviour of political parties, composition of socio-economic support bases, and the behaviour of interest groups that influence reform. In the context of labour market flexibility, the party-system operates as an intermediate variable facilitating reforms. The chapter contradicts the conventional notion that party system fragmentation impedes reform by showing how increasing party competition corresponds to greater labour market reforms. It shows that increases in the number of parties, facilitates labour market reforms through marginalization of the issue of labour, realignment of class interests within broader society and fragmentation of trade union movement.

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Introduction to the special issue: multiple jobholding in Europe

Transfer European Review of Labour and Research ◽

10.1177/10242589211022550 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 141-147

Author(s):

Wieteke Conen ◽

Karin Schulze Buschoff

Keyword(s):

Labour Market ◽

Social Protection ◽

Special Issue ◽

Clear Trend ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Quality Of Work ◽

Labour Market Flexibility ◽

Employment Situation ◽

Over Time

In a number of European countries there is a clear trend towards increased multiple jobholding. As things stand, however, little is known about the structure and the potential consequences of this increase, notably in terms of quality of work and social protection. This special issue focuses on contemporary forms of multiple jobholding in Europe. Have the structure, nature and dynamics of multiple jobholding changed over time? What are the roles of labour market flexibility, technological change and work fragmentation in the development of multiple jobholding? And do multiple jobholders benefit from similar and adequate employment terms, conditions and protections compared with single jobholders, or are they worse off as a consequence of their (fragmented) employment situation? What implications do these findings have for unions, policy-makers and the regulation of work? The collection of articles in this special issue adds to the literature on emerging forms of employment in the digital age and challenges for social protection, also in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This introduction initiates a discussion of central debates on multiple jobholding and presents a synopsis of the articles in this issue.

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Changing labour market flexibility in the European union

Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv ◽

10.1007/bf02707328 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 138 (1) ◽

pp. 148-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eric J. Pentecost ◽

John G. Sessions

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Labour Market ◽

The European Union ◽

Labour Market Flexibility

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Into the Vicious Cycle of Precarity: Labour Market, Precarious Work, Social Vulnerability and Youth: The case of Greece within the EU context

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal ◽

10.14738/assrj.712.9511 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 474-496

Author(s):

Nikos Papadakis ◽

Maria Drakaki ◽

Sofia Saridaki ◽

Vassilis Dafermos

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Young People ◽

Labour Market ◽

Social Vulnerability ◽

The State ◽

The European Union ◽

Development Education ◽

Ongoing Research ◽

Precarious Work ◽

The Impact

Ιn the last decade, there has been a widespread expansion of both precarious work and precarious forms of employment (such as temporary and low-qualified jobs, seasonal and part-time jobs etc.), in which a growing share of young people work. The impact of precarious work on young people is likely to be permanent, while it seems to affect (even over-determine) their life courses. Non-smooth and early transitions into labour market are very likely to worsen progressively their long-term life chances (Lodovici & Semenza, 2012: 7). Undoubtedly, the long-lasting global economic Crisis and the subsequent Recession, has heavily affected the state of play in the labour market worldwide, provoking severe modifications both in the field of employment and countries’ social cohesion. Based on the above mentioned, the paper deals with precarious work in general, while it emphasizes precarious work among youth. It initially captures, briefly, the state of play in terms of the impact of the Crisis on the widening of the phenomenon of precarious work and then it focuses on theoretical insights and critical conceptual definitions concerning precariousness in the labour market. Further, based on secondary quantitative -data analysis, it analyses the key- parameters and facets of precarious work (focusing on youth) in the European Union and, mainly, in Greece. Additionally, it briefly presents parameters of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on precariousness in Greece. Finally, the paper explores the correlation between precarious work and social vulnerability, especially among young people. The present paper is based on an ongoing Research Project. More specifically, this research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020» in the context of the project “Precarious Work and Youth in today’s Greece: secondary quantitative analysis, qualitative filed research and research-based policy proposals” (MIS 5048510).

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