In a world of increasing needs and wants, getting a reliable job has become a big
challenge for most people. While some individuals work in two lucrative jobs
concurrently others are stuck in low- income jobs where they are overworked
and treated unfairly. In other cases, some individuals take odd jobs to just
sustain a living, not because they find such opportunities rewarding in any other
manner. Although people working in such circumstances may be able to pay for
their living expenses, their situations may cause them social alienation and a
sustained sense of insecurity due to the unpredictable nature of their jobs.
To begin with, poor treatment of workers is common in many places of work.
Most labourers have no medical health covers in the event of illness or injury
during work. Thus, they are forced to leave work, and use their own money to
cater for their medical bills, which may become a burden (Ehrenreich 2001).
Standing (2011) argues that persons not necessarily employed by the
government or institutions that have access to state benefits are vulnerable.
Hence, such individuals experience difficulties in paying bills, rent, and food. It is
for this reason most people take the readily available jobs to cater for their
expenses.
The book, The Precariat is about an
emerging group in the world and its
effects on society. Thus, it seeks to
answer three main questions: What is
Precariat? Why is it growing? Where
is it taking us? According to Guy
Standing, precariat is an emerging
dangerous class comprising a rapidly
growing number of individuals who are
faced with uncertainty.
During his interview with Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert on a program Keiser
Report episode 791, Standing argues that this class has created instability in the
society. Globalization is the main factor that has contributed to the expansion of
this class of precariat. Numerous factors that have had huge impacts on their
social-economic life, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, China’s embrace of
capitalism, the Indian dynamic economy change, and the influx of migrants who
are willing to work for low remuneration when compared to locals.
Overall, the social and economic structure plays a huge role in making lowincome workers vulnerable. Where people live in insecure employment, with
minimum labour protection, and no entitlements to the state and enterprise
benefits. Thus, although some careers, especially in self-employment may
provide for basic needs, sociologically they may be associated with severe lack of
contentment as they serve an alternative purpose, which in most cases is
unrewarding.
Are you in the precariat?
