Precariat

Precarity is a sociological term for a non-homogeneous social group, which is characterized by uncertainties of the economic activities. This can be difficult to be threatened or lead to social decline of living conditions. The term includes the precariousness of this grouping inherent characteristics and tendencies.

Etymology

Precarity is a new word that is derived from the adjective as a noun precarious. The adjective has the meaning unsafe because revocable. In the German language it came from the French word during the Napoleonic era précaire that from the Latin precarius (, bittweise attained ') and precari (, plead ') is derived.

In Roman law a precarious quality was the gratuitous transfer of movable or immovable property at any time free of withdrawal by the owner. A contractual relationship between the owner and the user ( Prekaristen ) was not justified by the lease. The Prekarist could use or make use of the thing, but he had always count on a revocation. In this respect, a precarium was a Bittleihe, derived from the word preces in its importance as a request.

History

The idea of ​​a social grouping to be called low be classified as precarity is, in itself old: These included, for example, Dishonest professions, lumpen proletariat, social despised. The idea goes back to a conception of Bordiguismus, after which the proletariat formed during the industrial revolution as well as in the period of industrialization had to be defined as people without means. Precarity is now considered a new concept of post-industrial social sciences. The Italian political scientist Alex Foti has this been suggested: " The precarity is in the post-industrial society, which was the proletariat in the industrial society. "

The sociologist Robert Castel and Klaus Dörre seen in the phenomenon of a recurrence of social uncertainties, the fact that the social question has surfaced at the beginning of the 21st century again. Earlier, can develop in the Western European economies a high economic prosperity in recent decades of the 20th century. On the basis of strong periods of growth after the Second World War was created for the prevailing normal working conditions a system of collective hedges: these include in particular collective agreements, social legislation, statutory pension and labor law.

Definition

According to a definition of the International Labour Organisation a precarious employment is deemed to exist if the employment status only low job security, and little impact on the structuring of the work situation is granted, the labor law protection is given only partial and the chances of a material livelihood by the work in question rather poor are.

A Jena-based research group in 2008 presented a similar-sounding definition of precarious employment: After an acquisition ratio can be described as precarious, if those who work in the level of income in the collective security and the operational integration below the present and the majority acknowledged standards are. This situation is accompanied by a loss of meaningfulness, social recognition and planning security. In relation therefore is that such a definition to normal standards such as the standards of a normal employment relationship.

The Swiss trade unionist Alessandro Pelizzari, who has the particular individual dealing with the uncertainty of precarious workers examined, also sets out four characteristics of precarious work situations exists:

These four characteristics are generally applicable to the large number of temporary employees that are expected therefore to precarity and is rising sharply.

The Federal Statistical Office distinguishes atypical and precarious employment. Under atypical employment are the Federal Statistical Office, all dependent employment understood that include one or more of the following features:

• Limitation,
• Marginal employment,
• Part-time employment of 20 hours or less
• Time employment.

Precarious employment may be associated with atypical employment is with this but not the same. Employment contracts and the Federal Statistical Office referred to as precarious if they are not capable of ensuring the long term livelihood of a person or to ensure their social protection. In determining whether a precarious employment are also personal circumstances of the labor force, as the previous course of the working life and the household context to note.

Typologies

On the basis of empirical research Klaus Dörre has developed together with colleagues at the Friedrich -Schiller- University Jena and the Recklinghausener research institute work, education, participation ( FIAB ) a typology of employment, which he divides into three zones:

At the zone of precarity, the authors include first, precarious employment as a temporary integration ( the hopeful ), secondly, as a permanent arrangement ( the realism ) and thirdly as a defused possibility ( the satisfied ones ). This subdivision of Prekaritätszone allows to include workers who indeed are in no way dependent employment relationship may be threatened in their existence nonetheless. Thus the circle is extended to

• Freelancer ( Freelancer )
• Traders who trade taxable independent operation,
• Self-employed.

In this context Dörre indicates that three-quarters of the approximately 106,000 academic staff are employed only limited at German universities. Here demanding work activities be made within unsafe conditions. Equally precarious is the total area of ​​continuing education: Only 14 % ( 142,000 people) have a contributory employment. About 74% ( 771,000 people) are active in this sector, as freelancers or self-employed.

According to statistics of the German Trade Union Federation in 2007 the employment types designated as precarious have spread further: Compared with 2003, there are twice as many ( 650,000 ) temporary workers; 600,000 are in a one-euro job; 440,000 full-time workers dependent on Hartz IV. 1.3 million people work as supervisor Tocker, where their number increases. In June 2010, there were just over 1.4 million supervisors Tocker in Germany.

Another typology has Berthold Vogel, Project Manager at the Hamburg Institute for Social Research, developed on the basis of two qualitative studies from the years 2002/2003 and 2007/2008:

In this typology, the approach is more in the course of a working career.

Labor market policy

Paradoxically, the government labor market policy at the beginning of the 21st century created those basics in the Federal Republic of Germany, which led to the growth of precarious. The Modern in August 2002 by the Commission services on the labor market in the so-called Hartz concept presented and then realized measures are a part of the recent history of the German precarious: These measures have eased partially labor limitations and created a variety of employment and status forms new. This redirection of state labor market policy has left the guidance of a backup policy and contributed to the growing instability and uncertainty in employment.

Underclass study

According to the published in December 2006 study by the Friedrich -Ebert -Stiftung society in the reform process to Prekariat include the subgroups of the suspended precarious, the authority- oriented low-skilled and part of the self-sufficient traditionalists. The study calls for the suspended Prekariat the number of 6.5 million Germans (this corresponds to eight percent of the total population). Emphasized Frank Charles of the Friedrich -Ebert -Stiftung, the term New sub- layer is not is common to the study. Nevertheless discussed the mass media, this study before its publication under the title underclass study.

Varia

In 2006, the company chose German language the term precarity at # 5 on the word of the year.