Unfree Wage Labour

Bibliographic Data

ID2371016
AuthorsMaja Breznik (0000-0002-9131-7083, Mirovni inštitut, Slovenia, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume49
Issue7-8
Pages1125-1139
Publication date2023-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCritical Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0896-9205 • E-ISSN: 1569-1632
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/08969205231152914
OpenAlexW4319438995
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited57

The article develops the concept of 'unfree wage labour' that refers to a situation in which a worker must (temporarily and conditionally) give away possession of his labour power to a third party who then sells it to the buyers of labour power. From the perspective of contract freedom and legal equality, it seems irrelevant whether a worker sells his or her labour power to an employer or to an intermediary. However, there is no doubt that labour intermediation increases the economic dependence and social subordination of workers. First, given that the intermediary negotiates with the employer, the worker has a lower ability to influence the terms of employment. Second, given that he or she is a contract worker, they have a lower ability to engage in collective action in the company. Undoubtedly, this worker has significantly lower control over her or his working and living conditions. The question arises whether his or her contract freedom lessened to the extent that we can speak of unfree wage labour

Economics · Freedom of contract · Labor relations · Labour economics · Labour law · Market economy · Wage · Digital Economy and Work Transformation · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Labor Movements and Unions

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