Summaries
Increasing flexibility of labour: conse quences for social security
J.M. Dekkers
The achievement of labour flexibility is more and more seen as an important precondition for the improvement of the competitiveness of firms. The article starts with a description of the factors causing the growing concern with the flexibility of the firm, and the various forms labour flexibil ity might take: functional flexibility, numerical flexibility, contracting out and pay flexibility. The firm of the future will consist of a group of core workers with firm-specific skills and much employment security, surrounded by numerical ly flexible peripheral groups of workers (part- timers, casuals, home-workers, self-employed). When the present system of social security came into being, peripheral workers hardly existed. Consequently, social security is tailored to the situation of core workers. The disadvantaged position of peripheral workers in social security is illustrated. Finally, two possible policy options are sketched: legislative restriction o f numerical flexibility or fundamental reform of social security.
On the Edge of the Welfare State; Social Consequences of New Poverty
G. Engbersen and R. van der Veen
In this article the authors discuss the phenom enon of ‘new poverty’. The discussion is based on the outcome of a research project which they executed in the city of Rotterdam. They inter viewed 120 households in the lowest income category (in particular, households that had lived on the so called ‘social minimum’ for more than one year). The sample consisted mainly of old age pensioners, divorced women with children and long term unemployed men. A description is given of the strategies these people use to make
both ends meet. One of these strategies, which is discussed in detail, consists of running into debts, which is only partly a conscious strategy. The con tracting of debts is, for some household catego ries, also an inevitable consequence of living on a social minimum.
The results of this research project are compared with earlier Dutch research on poverty (in the thirties, the fifties and the seventies). The social consequences to which the authors call attention are the social isolation o f the low-income house holds, their loss of independence and the total lack of perspective. These phenomena are dis cussed in relation to the question whether we can speak of an emerging new underclass in the modern welfare state.
Work environment Act in Holland
Drs. U. Veersma
Since January 1983, a new law on protection of labour and quality of work is gradually becoming operative in the Netherlands. Although Parlia ment in 1980 voted unanimously to pass the bill, several factors are delaying its coming into force. Besides, problems have arisen concerning the contents of the law. These problems are discus sed in our article.
First, the law will be introduced by describing its basic premises, which represent its most impor tant legislative innovation. Related changes in the policy of Dutch labour inspection authorities will also be dealt with. Furthermore, the most impor tant obstacles to a fast and flexible introduction of the law will be reviewed. Next, recent develop ments will be presented, such as articles of the law which have been newly introduced and the latest recommendations of the ‘Arbo-Raad’ con cerning the future introduction o f the remaining parts o f the law.
The article’s final assessment is that, although for the given reasons support for the new law has diminished, there seems to be enough support for Tijdschrift voor Arbeidsvraagstukken, jrg. 2, 1986/3 91
the new road which has been taken. Current developments in industrial production are making the need for such legislation even more urgent in view of the future of work.
Automation of a beetsugar production plant: design process and operator tasks
F.D. Pot and A.A.F. Brouwers
The technological and economic determination of work organisation and job content has been questioned these last years. Recent research focuses more on design processes and decision making.
This article is an analysis of choice opportunities regarding technology and work organisation du ring the automation of a beetsugar production plant. Little attention has been paid by the de signers to problems of work and work organisa tion. Although choice opportunities concerning technology have been discussed, in the end de signers have chosen for the highest possible level of automation. The resulting operator tasks in two control rooms differ as a consequence of different levels of automation of the production processes that are controlled from these rooms. On the highest level of automation (computer- controlled processes) the complexity of the tasks is far less as compared to the lower level. This can be considered as degradation. The influence of operators, middle management and worker representatives was minimal during the design process and in decision making.
Technology Assessment; the development of new technology based on social criteria
S. Dijkstra, W.H.C. Kerkhoff and A. Simonse In this article Technology Assessment is presented as a method by which technology can be con structed on social bases.
The traditional view o f Technology Assessment is set off against a definition of TA in which the construction of technology is embedded in the long term, midrange and short-term planning in organizations. During these planning phases social criteria can be used to assess the possible impact of proposed new technologies, so that they may be (re-)designed in order to achieve a socially more favourable outcome.
Whereas the negative social output of organiza
tions is guided by the principle of ‘internal ra tionality’, the authors emphasize the need to view TA in future from the perspective of both internal en external organizational economics.
Acquiring craftmanship through an inter mediate system
J. Geurts
With regard to the fight against youth unemploy ment today in the Netherlands one is industrious ly working on extending vocational learning opportunities for young people who leave lower level secondary school (mavo and lbo).
Vocational training opportunities are extended in two ways. Firstly, the pupils can stay in the regu lar educational system for a longer period: they can follow a new type of vocational training (kort-mbo). Secondly, doubling the training capacity in the apprenticeship-system must give more young people access to this type of part- time education.
The author is of the opinion that trade and in dustry on the one hand and educational circles on the other have different policies on this sub ject. So he proposes to shape the extension of vocational training opportunities through a system that intermediates between educational and occupational system. Government, trade and industry, and educational circles should take common responsibility for the intermediate system.
Unemployment and social status
Peter Ester and Paul Dekker
This article shows that both employed and unem ployed persons tend to attribute positive traits relatively more to employed people and negative traits relatively more to unemployed people. In addition it is found that employed persons com pared to unemployed persons feel positive traits are more characteristic for employed than for unemployed people, whereas negative traits do not discriminate in this respect. The hypothesis that attribution of traits is related to perceived threat of becoming unemployed oneself and to expected personal and general welfare develop ment is not supported. It is found, however, that judgment of unemployed persons is related to attitudes of employed persons toward social security, as well as toward a number of moral and sociopolitical beliefs.
