Precarious employment in Malta : a sociological analysis

Abstract

Precarious employment is on the frontline of the global and local political agenda. Although the notion is relatively new, the issue might be rooted back in history. Today we talk about precarious employment because various factors enhanced this problem and hence it became more visible. At the same time atypical employment, which was quite often confused with precarious employment was persistently on the increase. The study aims to establish the main factors causing precarious employment in Malta. Moreover, it seeks to develop a link between the causes of precarious employment and the precarious sectors of the economy. For various reasons, three particular sectors are more vulnerable to precarious employment. However, the research manifests that precarious employment is not interlocked within these three sectors. Precarious employment is an emergent and widespread phenomena, which if not addressed can become a norm. The study attempts to trace some of the possible effects of precarious employment in Malta. The globalised economy produced certain insecurities in the labour market. Developments in the latter as well as technological advancements supported employment practices that were designed to reduce costs and maximize flexibility, consequently risks were shifted onto the workers and their families. Hence, precarity affects not only how people work but also how people live.