Outsorcing of the Domestic Work in Russia: Precarious Employment in Substantive Economy

Abstract

Domestic labour is a very important part of national economy today. Domestic labour is aimed on reproduction of the labour potential of workers by efforts of a household. Usually domestic labour is realized by members of a particular household. However, in up-to-date economy households usually outsource particular functions of domestic labour outside the household. The most widespread is outsourcing of the domestic labour in the spheres of food preparation, childcare and everyday household services. Domestic labour outsourcing produces the whole segment of labour market aimed at meeting this demand. Employment in this segment is usually precarious and leads to decreasing living standards and developing a considerable sector of shadow economy.The Object of the Study. Outsourcing of the domestic labour in Russia.The Subject of the Study. Practices and directions of domestic labour outsourcing in Russia.The Main Provisions of the Article. Domestic labour consists of work implemented in or for a household. Domestic labour presumes a whole spectrum of life-sustaining activities. Cardinal changes in global economy impel households to take decisions concerning outsource domestic labour. Domestic labour outsourcing in terms of labour market theory is a gig-economy. Gig-economy produces a sphere of employment where a customer and a work performer are connected throughout Internet platforms or apps. This type of employment is characterized either by full absence of contracts or by constrained terms of contracts; by disguised employment or fictitious self-employment; be precarious working conditions such as verbal agreement of remuneration and lack of access to social guarantees and to labour rights protection.