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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Rosaria Burchielli ,
Annie Delaney  and
Nora Goren
Rosaria Burchielli*
Affiliation:
La Trobe University, Australia
Annie Delaney
Affiliation:
Victoria University, Australia
Nora Goren
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche, Argentina
*
Rosaria Burchielli, Department of Management, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia. Email: r.burchielli@latrobe.edu.au
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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.

Keywords

Argentinagarment homeworkinformal workprecarious work

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