Theses defended

Crises, Estado e Precariedade Laboral: o Trabalho Temporário em Portugal

Adriano Campos

Public Defence date
July 23, 2020
Doctoral Programme
Labour Relations, Social Inequalities and Trade Unionism
Supervision
Hermes Augusto Costa
Abstract
The crisis has returned to the center of economic and sociological thinking in the last decade as its causes have worsened and multiplied and its results become visible. From the financial crisis to the social crisis, from the ecological crisis to the political representation crisis, the elements of inflection of rules and behaviors are present and affect different dimensions of social dynamics and structures. In the face of this transformation, two spheres in particular will be questioned in this thesis. The sphere of the State and the sphere of work.

The subject of this thesis is the state's role in the regulation of labor relations in the context of crisis. An analysis anchored in the phenomenon of labor precariousness in general, and in the phenomenon of temporary agency work in particular. For the analysis of this subject, we start from a wide range of theoretical references based on this threefold conceptualization: of the State as an arena of conflicts: of work as a central sphere of reproduction and structuring; crisis as an accelerating element in the processes of social reconfiguration. This is followed by an analysis of the social transformations related to the State and labor in Portugal, valuing different periods until today. The debate around the issue of backwardness and analyzes of the phenomenon of precariousness are particularly important in this part.

This research discusses in detail the phenomenon of temporary employment agency. First, from an international perspective, placing its genesis and subsequent development. Then, in the Portuguese context, identifying the formation, growth and affirmation of the sector. Temporary agency work has acquired an unavoidable relevance in recent years, punctuating in almost all analyzes that work the phenomenon of precarious work. By presenting distinctive features regarding the instability of contracts, low wages and mobilized workforce, temporary work stands as a unique case in labor regulation established by the state.

The analysis of temporary work is carried out from the mobilization of different sources and indicators, seeking to establish an analytical connection with the themes of the State, work and crises

Keywords: State; work; crises; labor regulation; precariousness