Precarious employment in Chile: psychometric properties of the Chilean version of Employment Precariousness Scale in private sector workers.

Alejandra Vives-Vergara,Francisca González-López,Joan Benach,Orielle Solar,Pamela Bernales-Baksai,María José González

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00156215

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to perform a psychometric analysis (acceptability, reliability and factor structure) of the Chilean version of the new Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES). The data is drawn from a sample of 4,248 private salaried workers with a formal contract from the first Chilean Employment Conditions, Work, Health and Quality of Life (ENETS) survey, applied to a nationally representative sample of the Chilean workforce in 2010. Item and scale-level statistics were performed to assess scaling properties, acceptability and reliability. The six-dimensional factor structure was examined with confirmatory factor analysis. The scale exhibited high acceptability (roughly 80%) and reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.83) and the factor structure was confirmed. One subscale (rights) demonstrated poorer metric properties without compromising the overall scale. The Chilean version of the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES-Ch) demonstrated good metric properties, pointing to its suitability for use in epidemiologic and public health research.

Highlights

As extensively discussed by the Employment Conditions Network (EMCONET) of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, employment conditions are key determinants of health, affecting working conditions, occupational health and safety standards, and general living conditions 1.In recent decades, the increased flexibility of labor markets has become a widespread practice in many countries
The purpose of this study was to perform a psychometric analysis of the Chilean Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES-Ch), assessing item-level and scale-level statistics, including acceptability, reliability and construct validity of the EPRES-Ch among private salaried workers
Chile is the first country in South America where a version of the Employment Precariousness Scale has been applied and psychometrically evaluated, and this is the first study to include confirmatory factor analysis of the EPRES

Summary

Introduction

As extensively discussed by the Employment Conditions Network (EMCONET) of the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, employment conditions are key determinants of health, affecting working conditions, occupational health and safety standards, and general living conditions 1.In recent decades, the increased flexibility of labor markets has become a widespread practice in many countries. Flexible employment forms tend to represent an erosion of the employment relationship, as they are less stable, tend to be less well paid, involve more limited employment protection provisions, benefits and entitlements, as well as more individualized labor relations with limited worker control over employment and working conditions. This greater precariousness of employment relationships threatens the well-being of workers and their families, with precarious employment constituting an emergent social determinant of health 2. With 55% of the Chilean working age population occupied in the labor market, and over 70% of them in salaried employment accounts for well over 5 million people 5

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