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The precariat pandemic: Exploitation overshadowed by COVID-19 and workers’ strategies in Poland

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  • PaweÅ‚ Å»uk
  • Piotr Å»uk

Abstract

Based on the material obtained from focus group interviews conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the article analyses the mechanisms used by employers towards employees, as well as the adaptation strategies applied by those in precarious employment in Poland. The authors’ considerations refer to anti-worker changes introduced under the pretext of the pandemic in the capitalist labour market: layoffs and cuts in wages, manifestations of discrimination against precarious workers and the potential attitudes of employee self-defence. The authors conclude that it is almost certain that under the conditions of post-pandemic capitalism, the number of the precariat will grow and the neoliberal system will want to retain as many of the anti-worker solutions introduced in the shadow of the pandemic as possible. JEL codes J70, J81, J28

Suggested Citation

  • PaweÅ‚ Å»uk & Piotr Å»uk, 2022. "The precariat pandemic: Exploitation overshadowed by COVID-19 and workers’ strategies in Poland," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 33(1), pages 200-223, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecolab:v:33:y:2022:i:1:p:200-223
    DOI: 10.1177/10353046211067255
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Veronica Sheen, 2017. "The implications of Australian women’s precarious employment for the later pension age," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 28(1), pages 3-19, March.
    10. Piotr Żuk & Paweł Żuk & Justyna Lisiewicz-Jakubaszko, 2019. "Labour migration of doctors and nurses and the impact on the quality of health care in Eastern European countries: The case of Poland," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 30(2), pages 307-320, June.
    11. Karl Gauffin, 2020. "Precariousness on the Swedish labour market: A theoretical and empirical account," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 31(2), pages 279-298, June.
    12. Victor Wong & Tat Chor Au-Yeung, 2019. "Autonomous precarity or precarious autonomy? Dilemmas of young workers in Hong Kong," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 30(2), pages 241-261, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leonardo Carnut & Lucas Uback & Áquilas Mendes, 2023. "Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Cooled Down or Stimulated the Countertendencies of Capital? A Critical Review," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    precariat; inequalities; capitalism; COVID-19; workers’ strategies; austerity; class;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J70 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - General
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

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