Enforceability of rights in the temporary agency sector: The case of Belgium

Kim Bosmans, Deborah De Moortel and Christophe Vanroelen
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Kim Bosmans: Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Deborah De Moortel: Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Germany
Christophe Vanroelen: Interface Demography, Department of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium; Health Inequalities Research Group, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain

Economic and Industrial Democracy, 2022, vol. 43, issue 4, 1519-1538

Abstract: This study explores why temporary agency workers are disadvantaged compared to regular workers regarding their employment-related and social rights in Belgium despite extensive equal rights regulation. Fifteen in-depth interviews among temporary agency workers were analysed thematically. The enforceability of rights poses the main problem in temporary agency workers’ disadvantaged position. The following manifestations of a lack of enforceability are discussed: (1) lack of enforceability due to ignorance and indifference about rights; (2) vulnerability hindering enforceability; and (3) lack of enforceability due to misuse by employers and cutting corners. It is argued that this problem of enforceability is mainly caused by a lack of a clear allocation of responsibilities as to who should ensure the rights of temporary agency workers.

Keywords: Employee rights; policy; precarious employment; qualitative research; temporary agency work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:43:y:2022:i:4:p:1519-1538

DOI: 10.1177/0143831X211017227

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