Precarious Jobs without Precariousness ? The Case of French Policy for Domestic Services

LORENA POBLETE

Leeds

Congreso; International Labour Process Conference 2011; 2011

University of Leeds

In 1980, when it became evident that an important part of the population could not participate in labour market, the domestic services’ sector appeared as a new source of employment. Since then, this sector has provided employment principally to non-qualified workers who were the most distanced from the labour market at that time. Within the context of that economic and Welfare state crisis, this sector played a double role. On one hand, it provided employment to the market’s more vulnerable and marginalized workers. On the other hand, it serves as a response to some social needs that Welfare state could not meet, such as care for the elderly, the handicapped, and for children. Although the domestic service sector developed slightly during the 80s through various measures such as direct allowances or tax reductions, it was in 2006 with the chèque emploi service universel (CESU) that sector increased its presence in the labour market. By the time of the global recession in 2008-2009, this social policy already had extensive presence, and the kind of jobs it involved seemed to be an alternative to unemployment in this new context of crisis. In 2009, the government therefore made some adjustments to this social policy. First, more jobs were created, expanding the reach of CESU to all categories of people, including employers who were already benefiting from other social programs. Tax reductions were extended to various activities, as well, including: 1) previously unpaid activities, such as care-taking of family members; 2) activities traditionally performed in public schools by teachers, such as remedial instruction for students from in marginal neighborhoods; 3) activities previously done by companies that were now opened to individuals such as computer consultation. Finally, access of CESU was simplified in order to generalize its use. Though non-qualified and low-paying, jobs in the domestic service sector are a means of allowing workers access to social protection. Through CESU, independent workers who provide specific services to families, such as services to help with everyday life, home-based services, care and domestic work, these workers appear to have become wage employees with access to the social security system. Despite this legal recognition of a quasi salary status, it has resulted in a high level of labour precariousness for these jobs. The main objective of this research is to understand, by analysing the labour process involving domestic workers, the forms of labour precariousness in the domestic service sector. This investigation will use qualitative methodology based on life stories of domestic workers.