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Power resources and the battle against precarious employment: Trade union activities within a tripartite initiative tackling undeclared work in Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Carin HÃ¥kansta

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Working Life Science, Karlstad Business School, Karlstad University, Sweden)

  • Maria Albin

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm Region, Sweden)

  • Bertina Kreshpaj

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Copenhagen University, Denmark)

  • Virginia Gunn

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Canada; Cape Breton University, Sydney, Canada)

  • Christer Hogstedt

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden)

  • Nuria Matilla-Santander

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden)

  • Patricia O’Campo

    (Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Unity Health Toronto, Canada)

  • Cecilia Orellana Pozo

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden)

  • David H Wegman

    (University of Massachusetts, Lowell, USA; La Isla Foundation, Washington DC, USA)

  • Theo Bodin

    (Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm Region, Sweden)

Abstract

The aim of this case study was to explore the abilities and limitations of trade unions in their response to undeclared work, which has received scant attention in research on working conditions and industrial relations. The authors use power resource theory to examine the outcome of a Swedish government initiative aimed to boost the ability of the social partners to tackle undeclared work. The findings confirm previous literature suggesting cross-sectoral differences in the extent and nature of undeclared work and an association between low levels of power resources and high risk of undeclared work. The authors recommend that future initiatives take account of cross-sectoral differences in the nature and extent of undeclared work and available power resources. Future research should consider how different actors can contribute to the ability of the social partners in different sectors to engage in the battle against undeclared work.

Suggested Citation

  • Carin HÃ¥kansta & Maria Albin & Bertina Kreshpaj & Virginia Gunn & Christer Hogstedt & Nuria Matilla-Santander & Patricia O’Campo & Cecilia Orellana Pozo & David H Wegman & Theo Bodin, 2024. "Power resources and the battle against precarious employment: Trade union activities within a tripartite initiative tackling undeclared work in Sweden," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 45(1), pages 29-56, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:45:y:2024:i:1:p:29-56
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X221131835
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anders Neergaard & Charles Woolfson, 2017. "Sweden: A model in dissolution?," Chapters, in: Stefania Marino & Judith Roosblad & Rinus Penninx (ed.), Trade Unions and Migrant Workers, chapter 10, pages 200-223, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Colin C. Williams, 2019. "Tackling Undeclared Work In The European Union: An Evaluation Of Government Policy Approaches," UTMS Journal of Economics, University of Tourism and Management, Skopje, Macedonia, vol. 10(2), pages 135-147.
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