PRODUCTIVE RESTRUCTURING AND PRECARIZATION OF LABOR: THE WORLD OF WORK IN TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relations between the processes of productive restructuring and precarization of labor. The privileged dimensions of analysis are: (i) unemployment; (ii) contract of employment; (iii) value of labor power; (iv) employment posts quality. The results indicate that the characteristic technical base of the flexible accumulation regime is manpower saver, leading to structural unemployment increase. The formal contract of employment becomes more tenuous and the participation of the informal job in the whole workforce is increasing. Concerning the value of labor power, it is observed a declining tendency in the last decade. The process of productive restructuring contributes to deteriorate the quality of employment posts by the work intensification in manufacturing spaces, promoted by the operations cycle reduction, simultaneous operation of machine set, among others. Work intensification and workday extension contribute to increase the risk of workers to develop occupational illnesses related to WMSD.