Temporary Workers Research Articles

Interstate Migrant Workers and Access to Social Security Benefits: A Critical Study

According to the latest data, the construction sector is one of the second largest employment generation sectors with 71 million workers’ force and Indian construction workers are listed under the unorganized sector. The Ministry of Labor and Employment launched the e-sharam portal for unorganized sector workers which helps them to get awareness about the social security schemes. It is the first database in India that covers migrant workers, gig workers, construction workers, and migrant workers. However, it is crucial to study the status of social security among migrant construction workers. The main intention of this paper is to understand the status of social security among migrant construction workers in India. The present paper focuses on the latest literature related to social security especially related to migrant workers. The methodology adopted by the researcher is the secondary data. The finding of the study reveals that workers will only know information about social security through the welfare boards, workers who work on sites, and eighty percent of workers are not conscious about social security privileges. Meanwhile, the socioeconomic condition of workers was poor and factors like education level, and monthly income were very poor, the average monthly income was less than five thousand rupees per month. A few prominent studies were conducted on comparative studies comparing their economic status before and after their migration and it was found that the economic condition has improved when they have migrated from their place to some other place for livelihood. Keywords- Social security, Migrant construction workers, Unorganised sector, Socio-economic conditions.

The widening gender wage gap in the gig economy in China: the impact of digitalisation

The gig economy, fundamentally relying on the digital economy, is often celebrated for its potential to expand employment opportunities and close gender wage gaps. However, research on its gender impacts in China, the largest developing country with a rapidly expanding gig sector, is notably lacking. Employing discrimination theory, the findings challenge the prevailing optimistic view on the role of the gig economy. Utilising the China Labour Dynamics Survey data from 2014, 2016, and 2018, and applying the Bourguignon, Fournier, and Gurgand model to correct selection bias, this study reveals that, digitalisation has exacerbated gender wage gaps, with the wage growth of female gig workers significantly lagging behind their male counterparts, especially among married and older cohorts. Adopting the Neumark decomposition, the analysis confirms that discrimination largely accounts for this gap. This study uses Generalised Propensity Score Matching as robustness test and concludes with policy recommendations.

Navigating the Gig Economy: Talent identification in tripartite work arrangements in Morocco

The gig economy is transforming the traditional employment landscape in Morocco, introducing both challenges and opportunities for talent identification. As online labor platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Uber become increasingly prevalent, they facilitate the connection between freelance workers and SMEs seeking flexible labor solutions. This paper delves into the intricacies of tripartite work arrangements that encompass these platforms, the requesters (SMEs), and the gig workers themselves. By examining these relationships, we uncover the unique aspects of talent identification within the Moroccan gig economy. Our study employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to gather comprehensive data from various stakeholders.We identify that while online platforms employ standardized algorithms for talent identification, these methods often overlook local cultural and linguistic nuances critical to the Moroccan context. SMEs in Morocco tend to heavily rely on platform-mediated ratings and reviews, which underscores the trust placed in these digital reputation systems. Furthermore, our findings reveal that gig workers who invest in skill development and actively manage their online reputations are more likely to secure consistent and lucrative opportunities.This research provides a conceptual framework for understanding the complexities of talent identification in Morocco's gig economy, offering valuable insights for enhancing talent management practices. We propose several recommendations for platforms to refine their algorithms, for SMEs to develop more robust evaluation criteria, and for gig workers to focus on continuous skill enhancement. This paper not only contributes to the academic discourse on gig work but also provides practical guidelines for stakeholders to navigate and optimize talent identification processes in Morocco's evolving labor market.

Retaining Permanent and Temporary Immigrants in Rural Australia: Place‐Based and Individual Determinants

ABSTRACTIn many low‐fertility countries, immigration is increasingly seen a solution to the twin problem of rural depopulation and skill shortages. In Australia, this takes the form of regional visa schemes that require both skilled and humanitarian migrants to reside initially in nonmetropolitan regions for a minimum of 2 years. In the absence of nationally representative longitudinal data, the efficacy of this policy is yet to be assessed. Applying survival analysis to novel administrative data from the Person Level Integrated Data Asset (PLIDA), this paper establishes the level and determinants of rural retention among immigrants who arrived between January and August 2011 on eight different visas and compares these to the Australian population to the end of 2019. Our results suggest that regional visa schemes are effective in attracting permanent skilled migrants but not in retaining them, even when controlling for socio‐demographic characteristics. Migrants on regional skilled visa and temporary skilled workers display a 40% 9‐year retention rate compared with over 50% for Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent family, skilled and humanitarian migrants and 30% for students. In contrast, the low retention of temporary skilled migrants is largely the product of their younger and more educated profile. We identify a negative selection process by which immigrants with less‐education, lower incomes, or less English proficiency—including humanitarian migrants—are more likely to stay in nonmetropolitan regions. This outcome signifies a process of socio‐spatial polarisation and a segmented labour market. At a regional‐level, we find that regions with a diverse occupational mix and co‐ethnic networks are more likely to retain immigrants whereas those with high housing costs are significantly less likely. These results provide policy levers to boost rural retention.

Timber consumption for temporary works by buildings with the cast in situ reinforced concrete

Resumo Estruturas de edifícios em concreto armado moldado in loco utilizam madeira para fôrmas, escoras, andaimes, elementos de segurança e estruturas provisórias de canteiro, que caracterizam a subutilização do biomaterial em uma função de curto ciclo de vida e baixo valor agregado. O objetivo deste trabalho é levantar o consumo de madeira para fins provisórios em obras verticais com estrutura em concreto armado moldado in loco. Utilizou-se dados secundários obtidos por meio de uma revisão sistemática e exploratória de artigos nacionais e internacionais sobre uso, reuso e descarte da madeira. Para estudos com dados primários de edifícios habitacionais verticais o consumo de madeira por área construída foi de 0,002 a 0,054 m³/m². Para estudos com dados secundários e edifícios verticais de outros usos, o consumo de madeira foi de 0,002 a 0,077 m³/m². Houve variabilidade dos resultados de 33 vezes (média), explicada pelos métodos de quantificação, aplicações e reuso do material.

Fueling the future: unveiling what drives gig worker motivation and engagement in Sri Lanka’s corporate landscape

PurposeThe gig economy has rapidly grown due to economic trends supporting flexible work and digital platforms, leading to increased demand for corporate gig workers. Although numerous studies have explored various aspects of the gig economy, research on the motivational and engagement factors of gig workers remains relatively rare. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence corporate gig workers’ motivation and engagement in the geographical context of Sri Lanka. Specifically, job autonomy, remuneration, social connection and technology and investigated here.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study, employing a deductive research approach, was conducted with data gathered through a survey designed using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Respondents were conveniently selected from Sri Lankan corporate gig workers. A total of 397 responses were obtained through a snowball sampling technique. The collected data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, providing a robust framework for evaluating the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe findings revealed that job autonomy, remuneration, social connection and technology significantly influence corporate gig worker motivation, whereas motivation significantly influences the engagement of corporate gig workers in Sri Lanka.Research limitations/implicationsThis study faced common limitations. Due to challenges in identifying the framework for the population, a snowball sampling technique was employed. One key limitation is the study’s narrow focus on motivation factors within the Sri Lankan context, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the geographic focus and uneven sample distribution could limit the broader applicability of the conclusions. Future research should adopt a cross-cultural approach to explore the influence of social commerce adoption, enhancing the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsA comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence the corporate gig worker motivation and engagement is provided, facilitating, the decision-makers to gain insight to enhance worker motivation and engagement by adapting strategies. This can lead to higher productivity and job satisfaction among gig workers.Originality/valueExamination of the motivational and engagement factors specific to corporate gig workers in Sri Lanka, a context that has received limited attention in previous research. Also, it contributes to the existing literature by providing a deeper understanding of the gig economy and gig work, particularly in a non-Western setting.

Every coin has two sides: a self-determination perspective on the relationship between algorithmic management and gig workers’ job burnout

Every coin has two sides: a self-determination perspective on the relationship between algorithmic management and gig workers’ job burnout

Experiential fairness and power dynamics: an experimental study of labor dispatch in China

ABSTRACT This paper introduces the novel concept of ‘experiential fairness’ to investigate how cultural contexts and personal experiences shape individuals’ perceptions of fairness, moving beyond abstract theoretical principles. Utilizing an experimental design and in-depth interviews with temporary workers in Chinese government departments, the research examines the interplay between self-interest, power dynamics, and fairness perceptions in resource allocation decisions. The findings reveal that individuals often prioritize personal gain over systemic fairness or justice. The persistent issue of unequal pay for equal work underscores underlying labor market tensions and limitations within the civil service system, rather than mere injustice. Additionally, while temporary workers experience unfair treatment, their coping strategies are influenced by personal circumstances rather than universal appeals to fairness. This study advocates for recognizing diverse individual motivations in addressing labor systemic inequities and offers nuanced insights to inform fairer labor policymaking.

‘Sex influencers’: a survey of porn workers in the USA

ABSTRACT There are relatively few survey data on the lives of porn workers. This article presents and analyzes broad-based data from a survey of 531 porn industry workers in the USA. The article provides key demographic, economic, and social insights into the lives of porn workers. According to the data, porn workers are not all young, can have long careers in the industry, have high levels of education, do not all come from poverty, are not exclusively cisgender women, and are disproportionately white. Analysis of the data also dispels binary notions of porn workers as either exploited or uniquely empowered – as sex workers have argued repeatedly. Instead, the data show that many porn workers are satisfied with their work yet economically precarious, and that there are notable inequalities within the industry. Crucially, the data add to current conversations in porn studies about porn work as either gig work or influencer work. The article concludes that the data from this survey support the latter framing and that porn workers are best thought of as ‘sex influencers’. By providing a data-driven, broad picture on porn workers, the author hopes that future reporting and research will be more empirically grounded and nuanced.

Migration as a Catalyst of Change: The Impact of Indian Labour Migration to the GCC

The idea of emigration as a method of subsistence has long gained traction in India. Emigration and remittances have been praised as financial sources for the transformation of communities and households. Due to its historical links to international migration and its position as one of India's top labor exporting states, Kerala is an especially intriguing state that has been one of the most significant source regions for Indian temporary workers, primarily to the GCC (Gulf Cooperative Council) countries. Kerala is home to almost 2.1 million migrants, and 36% of the state's net state product comes from their contributions. This study looks at empirical data from the socioeconomic discourses surrounding Gulf migration with respect to the emigrants, their households, and the place from where they migrated in order to comprehend how migrant houses differ from non-migrant households. The study covers empirical research on the reasons behind migration, mobility trends, and the issue of using migration as a strategy to lower state unemployment. The paper goes on to discuss the significance of emigration in the socioeconomic transformations of the state.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL SUPPORT AND CAREER RESILIENCE: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AS A MEDIATOR IN THE GIG ECONOMY

This study addresses the research gap in understanding how social support influences career resilience among gig economy workers, with emotional intelligence as a mediating factor. While prior research has explored these variables in traditional employment contexts, there is limited investigation within the gig economy, especially in the Lamongan Regency. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between social support and career resilience and the mediating role of emotional intelligence. A quantitative approach using an explanatory research method was employed, with data collected from 100 gig workers through a Likert-scale questionnaire. The results demonstrate that social support positively impacts career resilience, with emotional intelligence enhancing this effect by mediating the relationship between the two. Gig workers with higher emotional intelligence showed greater adaptability in overcoming career challenges. These findings suggest the importance of fostering both social support networks and emotional intelligence to bolster career resilience. This research provides new insights for developing support mechanisms and training programs to improve gig workers' resilience in volatile work environments.

Organizational Identification as a Mediator of Organizational Support, Employee Engagement, and Commitment: The Case of Non-Teaching Employees in the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT)

Purpose – The primary objective of this study is to assess and compare the levels of organizational identification, employee engagement, organizational commitment, and perceptions of organizational support between contract-of-service and regular non-teaching employees in a state university in Iligan City. Aims(s) – This study investigates whether OI among contract-of-service and regular non-teaching employees mediates the relationships between OS, EE, and OC. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a cross-sectional quantitative research design. The respondents comprised 81 contract-of-service and 91 regular non-teaching employees from different offices in MSU-IIT using an online survey form. The collected data was analyzed using SmartPLS4 and Partial Least Square of Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses. Findings – The findings show that Organizational Identification (OI) significantly mediates the relationship between Organizational Support and Affective Commitment (AC), with stronger effects for contract-of-service employees. For contract-of-service and regular employees, OI is crucial in linking support and commitment. Regular non-teaching employees show stronger OI than temporary workers, enhancing their engagement and commitment. Limitations of the study and practical implications – Future research can also be conducted on a larger sample size, including other government higher educational institutions in Mindanao, to generalize the findings. One such limitation is the scope of this study, which is limited to a state university in Iligan City only. This work is limited to the MSU-IIT non-teaching employees; a cross-cultural study may be conducted to see if any variations occur in other cultural settings. A comparative study among the non-teaching employees of government and private higher educational institutions is also suggested. Originality - This research contributes to the broader understanding of employee dynamics, especially the non-teaching employees within the academic sector, specifically in the Philippine context, with implications for improving institutional performance and employee well-being.

How to match protections along with skills? Limitations of the match‐motive matrix for temporary migrant workers

How to match protections along with skills? Limitations of the match‐motive matrix for temporary migrant workers

The Housing Experiences of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in Canada: Examining Issues Through a Systematic Literature Review

The Housing Experiences of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) in Canada: Examining Issues Through a Systematic Literature Review

Resistance to economic exploitation or religious oppression? A sociomaterial analysis of the agency of Muslim food-delivery workers facing algorithmic management

This qualitative case study examines food-delivery platforms in France in order to reveal how gig workers, lacking traditional employment protections and collective bargaining, rely on informal community mechanisms to develop collective agency that is closely linked to the materiality of platforms. Drawing upon sociomaterial theory and the concept of affordance, our results show that religious affiliation plays a crucial role in the actualization of algorithmic management artifacts by Muslim migrant workers and leads to a sense of emancipation and reconciliation between their religious and work identities. Religious communities, often overlooked or avoided by traditional organizations, act as mediators in the gig economy. Because it uses “ post-diversity” organizational practices that are indifferent to marginal socio-demographic categories, the gig economy provides workers with material, emotional, and informational resources that facilitate identity agency and prioritize it over algorithmic management. The present study contributes to the literature on platform work by illuminating the intricate duality of agency experienced by Muslim migrant workers in the food-delivery sector and developed through community-built resources. It highlights the prioritization of freedom from religious oppression in the labor market over economic considerations, which leads to the acceptance of exploitative working conditions and peer control.

Emerging socioeconomic correlates of loneliness. Evidence from the Barcelona Health Survey 2021

Abstract Purpose Recent evidence shows that loneliness is associated with socioeconomic factors. However, studies often focus on traditional socioeconomic indicators (income, occupation, educational level) only, disregarding other important socioeconomic determinants, such as job insecurity, housing conditions or material deprivation. Therefore, we analyse the association of a broad range of socioeconomic indicators with loneliness. Moreover, we investigate potential age and gender differences in this relationship. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the Barcelona Health Survey 2021, representative of the population of Barcelona (Spain). Individuals over the age of 14 were selected (n = 3,337). The outcome was a loneliness score based on 4 items of the UCLA scale. Loneliness was regressed on a series of sociodemographic and emerging socioeconomic correlates. Linear regression models were fitted, and potential age and gender moderation effects were tested by means of two-way interactions. Results Job insecurity and precarity-related factors, such as having a temporary job or working without a contract, material deprivation and financial difficulties, as well as poor housing conditions and facing housing insecurity were associated with increased loneliness levels. While the association between loneliness and precarity-related factors is stronger among younger individuals, material deprivation is associated with increased loneliness among older workers and women. Conclusion Beyond sociodemographic individual characteristics, socioeconomic factors are strongly associated with loneliness levels in the population. Findings support the relevance of broadening the scope of socioeconomic indicators, assessing both material conditions as well as perceived insecurity.

The rise and contestation of platform capitalism: Evidence from two food delivery blackouts in Malaysia

The vulnerability and inequality of on-demand gig workers around the world are epitomised by the insecure rights that arise from the legal implications of their status. They are the biggest victims of capital accumulation under platform capitalism, which has skilfully exploited this worker–employer relationship. The resistance of gig workers is essential to counter the powerful structural control structures of platform capitalism. However, theoretical developments in the ideology and resistance of the industrial relations processes that overshadow platform capitalism and empirical studies of them in non-Western contexts are underdeveloped. This study develops an analytical framework in the process of platform capitalism versus gig worker resistance and examines longitudinal resistance and changes and challenges to platform capitalism. A longitudinal analysis of food delivery boycotts for Malaysian p-hailing gig workers in 2022 and 2024 produced different results and complexities in terms of the robustness and continuity of this resistance. The study finds theoretical fluidity in the robustness of workers’ commodification processes under platform capitalism, the focus on organising motives and demands of resistance, and two routes of resistance to the powerful platform balance of power.

Do temporary employees experience increased material deprivation? Evidence from German panel data

Economic insecurity has recently received increasing attention as a determinant of material deprivation. We contribute to this line of research by analysing the relationship between temporary employment and material deprivation. We argue that temporary workers face exacerbated deprivation because they may forego basic needs to provide for an uncertain future. Using German panel data for the years 2008–2020, we find that temporary employment increases material deprivation among workers, particularly in low-income households. This finding is robust to our controlling for important variables such as household income and needs, individual- and household fixed effects and when considering lagged independent variables. The association is not driven by young or highly educated workers who may be more likely to hold temporary jobs without experiencing sustained material deprivation. We also find that temporary agency work, perceived job insecurity and firm turnover rates aggravate material deprivation. This supports the theoretical assumption that the impact of temporary employment on material deprivation is driven by the economic insecurities faced by temporary workers.

The Developmental Possibilities of Gig Work on Digital Platforms: The Limits to the Hope and Hype in India

The Developmental Possibilities of Gig Work on Digital Platforms: The Limits to the Hope and Hype in India

“Who am I?” Exploring Temporary workers' Integration in Multi‐Employment‐Type Organizations From the Identity Threat Perspective

ABSTRACTThis study aims to advance current understanding concerning situational cues that trigger identity threat at the workplace among temporary workers and associated effects on their integration outcomes in the flexible employment scenario. We used the social identity threat theory to empirically investigate the impact of the extent to which regular employees' job conditions are superior to those of temporary workers on these workers' outcomes, through the identity threat. In addition, we examined the moderating role of organizations' social integration practices. We conducted two empirical studies involving technical temporary workers in Chinese companies, in which we used polynomial regression analyses and response surface modeling. In Study 1, using a two‐wave time‐lagged design, we analyzed data from 480 temporary workers, and in Study 2, using a three‐wave time‐lagged multi‐source dyadic design, we analyzed matching data from 371 temporary workers and 64 supervisors. Our findings indicate that the extent to which regular employees' job conditions surpass those of temporary workers is positively associated with identity threat among the latter, increasing their turnover intention and undermining their job performance. Moreover, temporary workers' perceptions of their organizations' social integration practices weaken the effects of the extent to which regular employees' job conditions surpass those of temporary workers. Thus, this study contributes to related literature on social identity threat and temporary workers, and to practice, by offering offers insightful implications for managers to effectively manage this threat.