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Social Sciences
Special Issues
From Precarious Work to Decent Work
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From Precarious Work to Decent Work

A special issue of Social Sciences (ISSN 2076-0760). This special issue belongs to the section "Work, Employment and the Labor Market".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 9942

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Norbert Ebert

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Guest Editor
School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: sociology of work and employment; sociological theory; precarious work; decency
Dr. Hangyoung Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: social inequality; social stratification and mobility; economic sociology; social networks
Dr. Harry Blatterer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
Interests: sociology of friendship; sociological theory; recognition; social inequality; intimacy; privacy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Much of the literature and research on precarious work tends to be ahistorical, focusing solely on the contemporary erosion of employment standards in advanced economies. This approach overlooks the longstanding reality that precarity is, and always has been, endemic in societies where profit is the sole determining factor for employment relations. Moreover, it fails to acknowledge that, for a significant portion of the world’s population, a combination of existential, economic, and political forms of precarity has long been the norm.

While in advanced economies, precarious work is often portrayed as a loss of decent employment standards associated with the golden age of Keynesianism, it is important to recognize the paradox between precarious work and decent work. On the one hand, employment forms the core of society, providing stability and certainty to individuals and societies overall. On the other hand, there is a concerted effort to minimize employment as a cost, leading to increased precarity.

The paradox is evident in “new” digital and app-enabled algorithmic management of employment relations. This is not only the case for the so-called gig-economy, but also in standard employment relations and even everyday life where algorithms are utilised to allocate, monitor, and control work in both old and new industries, ultimately aiming to reduce labour costs.

The purpose of this Special Issue, titled “From Precarious Work to Decent Work,” is to explore and address the paradox between precarious work and decent work inherent in modern capitalism. We seek micro- or macro-sociological research that moves beyond mere descriptions of increased precarity, offering theoretical or empirical insights into how precarious work could be transformed into decent work. Original research papers, reviews, successful case studies, and applications, as well as opinion papers of a high quality and with novel ideas on the possibilities to move “from Precarious Work to Decent Work”, are more than welcome.

Dr. Norbert Ebert
Dr. Hangyoung Lee
Dr. Harry Blatterer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Social Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • precarious work
  • decent work
  • employment
  • sociology of work
  • social inequality

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1064 KB  
Article
Survival to Dignity? The Precarious Livelihood of Street Food Vendors in South Mumbai and Their Path Toward Decent Work
by Sujayita Bhattacharjee, Sanjukta Sattar and Madhuri Sharma
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(12), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14120692 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 578
Abstract
Street food vending is a crucial part of South Mumbai’s urban informal economy, but is often precarious, unrecognized and unprotected. This study explores the livelihood strategies of South Mumbai’s street food vendors and their complex pathways toward seeking to survive and gain dignity [...] Read more.
Street food vending is a crucial part of South Mumbai’s urban informal economy, but is often precarious, unrecognized and unprotected. This study explores the livelihood strategies of South Mumbai’s street food vendors and their complex pathways toward seeking to survive and gain dignity through engaging in decent work. Through a mixed-methods approach, we selected vendors (N = 120) through a systematic random sampling process who participated in semi-structured interviews and a focus group (one) discussion. Descriptive statistics and linear regression methods were applied to analyze the quantitative data, alongside qualitative narratives describing these vendors lived realities. Using the dualism, legalism, and structuralism perspectives of the informal economy, our findings revealed structural inequalities, financial insecurities, and regulatory barriers that mitigate stability. However, the use of social networks, informal credit, and collective strategies for coping under stress illustrates resilience. The urgency of reformed policies to support vendors, including licensing reforms, social protections, and progressive/engaged city planning, is highlighted in our findings, which provide support toward the change in street food vending from survival to dignity, in support of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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23 pages, 544 KB  
Article
Responding to Precarity: Young People’s Ambiguity Aversion, Resilience, and Coping Strategies
by Audrey Ansay Antonio, Nadiyah Afifah Niigata Ramadhani and Rita Chiesa
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(11), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14110668 - 15 Nov 2025
Viewed by 737
Abstract
The nature of contemporary careers has shifted and is characterized by precarity, emphasizing the need for young people to possess adequate career resources in their pursuit of decent work. Grounded in the dual-process model and the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study [...] Read more.
The nature of contemporary careers has shifted and is characterized by precarity, emphasizing the need for young people to possess adequate career resources in their pursuit of decent work. Grounded in the dual-process model and the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study examines the loss impact caused by ambiguity aversion and low resilience on young people’s responses to career ambiguity, specifically, their coping strategies (i.e., avoidance and approach) and career anxiety. In this cross-sectional study, we collected data using online surveys from young adults aged 18–35 (N = 156) in Norway, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Serial mediation analyses were conducted using IBM-SPSS Statistics. Our findings found that ambiguity aversion had significant positive relations with career anxiety. Furthermore, resilience and avoidance coping were found to play mediating roles in the ambiguity aversion–career anxiety association. The results of the exploratory analyses also revealed significant differences in variable levels between the three countries examined. Our results have both theoretical and practical implications that contribute to the knowledge and practices in helping young people navigate the risks of precarity by developing adaptive career resources. We acknowledge the limitations regarding sample size and research design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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16 pages, 398 KB  
Article
Beyond Hours: Hidden Profiles of Underemployment in Australia
by Sora Lee and Woojin Kang
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(10), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14100603 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 537
Abstract
Underemployment in Australia represents a critical facet of precarious work, shaped not only by insufficient hours and skill underutilisation but also by care responsibilities and financial insecurity. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, this study employed [...] Read more.
Underemployment in Australia represents a critical facet of precarious work, shaped not only by insufficient hours and skill underutilisation but also by care responsibilities and financial insecurity. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, this study employed latent class analysis (LCA), a person-centred, model-based clustering method, to uncover hidden subgroups within the underemployed population. Previous studies identify different profiles, but few embed care burden and financial stress as core latent dimensions. This study extends latent class approaches by integrating multidimensional vulnerabilities into subgroup analysis. The LCA analysis revealed four distinct classes. These findings confirmed three hypotheses: (H1) Care burden is a core latent dimension of underemployment (Classes 1 and 2), (H2) economic insecurity is a second defining dimension (Class 3), and (H3) a mental health/social isolation subgroup exists (Class 4). Class 1 exhibits dual care burdens and high representation from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Class 2, Parents with Children, forms the largest group and is defined by intensive childrearing and caregiving roles. Class 3, Financially Strained Undereducated, includes individuals with low educational attainment experiencing pronounced financial hardship. Class 4, Socially Isolated with Poor Mental Health, represents the smallest yet most disadvantaged group, characterised by severe psychological distress, lack of social support, and acute financial vulnerability. Together, these findings highlight the need for tailored policy responses for diverse experiences among the underemployed and reveal intersecting social and economic disadvantages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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14 pages, 1129 KB  
Article
Collective Bargaining in Post-Memoranda Greece: Could It Guarantee Decent Work by Greek Employees?
by Theodore Koutroukis
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(8), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080496 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1518
Abstract
The aim of this work was to assess the developments in the Greek collective bargaining system and the wage policy after the period of the Memoranda of Understanding with the lenders. Moreover, it discusses the critical role of collective bargaining (CB) in the [...] Read more.
The aim of this work was to assess the developments in the Greek collective bargaining system and the wage policy after the period of the Memoranda of Understanding with the lenders. Moreover, it discusses the critical role of collective bargaining (CB) in the Greek economy and society and its contributions to forging a new balance between capital and labor in the post-memoranda era. Finally, it provides a number of proposals that could improve the state of play in the field. Firstly, a comprehensive approach to the current debate on the key issues of collective bargaining was portrayed. Secondly, the main developments in the Greek case of collective bargaining and the wage policy were recorded. Thirdly, an effort to interpret the pertinent developments that could lead to the diffusion of a decent work status in the domestic labor market was made. Finally, this work examined whether the current situation of collective bargaining threatens Greek employees’ living and working conditions, which were regarded as being at stake during the memoranda period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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23 pages, 525 KB  
Article
Paths to Self-Employment: The Role of Childbirth Timing in Shaping Entrepreneurial Outcomes
by Noa Achouche, Miri Endeweld and Benjamin Bental
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(6), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14060389 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1102
Abstract
This study investigates how the timing of self-employment relative to first childbirth shapes long-term entrepreneurial outcomes among Israeli mothers. Drawing on rich administrative panel data from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (N = 73,141 woman-years), we follow a cohort of women who gave [...] Read more.
This study investigates how the timing of self-employment relative to first childbirth shapes long-term entrepreneurial outcomes among Israeli mothers. Drawing on rich administrative panel data from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (N = 73,141 woman-years), we follow a cohort of women who gave birth for the first time in 2010, tracking their employment trajectories over 15 years (2005–2019). Using random-effect logistic regressions, OLS models, and fixed subgroup analyses, this study compares women who entered self-employment before childbirth with those who did so afterward. The results reveal that postnatal entrants are more likely to operate smaller businesses and exit self-employment earlier, yet often earn higher income from wage employment, compared to their prenatal counterparts. By tracing these outcomes over time, this study demonstrates how key life events, such as childbirth, structure women’s employment paths and contribute to differentiated patterns of labor market participation. Situated in a context of near-universal motherhood and limited public support for working parents, the findings offer insight into the dynamic links between family formation, employment timing, and entrepreneurial sustainability. By adopting a life-course perspective, this study demonstrates how the sequencing of family and employment transitions intersect to shape access to economic resources and entrepreneurial sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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24 pages, 768 KB  
Article
Not All Migrants Are the Same: Decent Work and Pre- and Post-Migration Experiences of Economic Migrants
by Maha Yomn Sbaa, Simone Donati and Salvatore Zappalà
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(3), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14030189 - 20 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1654
Abstract
Grounded in the dual frame of reference theory and a life-course perspective, this study explores how migrants’ past work experiences shape the perceptions of their actual work in the host country. The study examines pre- and post-migration working conditions and life satisfaction and [...] Read more.
Grounded in the dual frame of reference theory and a life-course perspective, this study explores how migrants’ past work experiences shape the perceptions of their actual work in the host country. The study examines pre- and post-migration working conditions and life satisfaction and compares them to perceptions of decent work (DW). Additionally, the study also compares the DW perceptions of migrants with prior work experience in their home country with those of migrants who lack such experience and started to work in the host country. Using the Decent Work Questionnaire (DWQ), the study analyzes responses from 137 participants. A two-step cluster analysis identified three distinct groups of migrants living in Italy with pre-migration work experience in their home country. These clusters have been labeled as follows: (1) “Better Life, Better Work”, (2) “Better Life, Worse Work”, and (3) “Same Life, Worse Work”. ANOVA results showed that the better life, better work group reported significantly higher overall DW perceptions, as well as higher scores on five out of the seven dimensions of the DWQ. Socio-demographic characteristics were further analyzed to explain variations across clusters. These findings highlight the complex interplay between pre- and post-migration experiences and their impact on migrants’ DW perceptions in their current roles. Additionally, such clusters were compared with a control group that does not have prior work experience in the home country. Results suggest that time-sensitive factors but also other factors, such as expectations, may determine those perceptions. Finally, the study offers practical recommendations for improving workplace conditions and provides insights for organizations and policymakers aiming to better support economic migrants’ integration in the workplaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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Review

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21 pages, 751 KB  
Review
Empowerment of Rural Women Through Autonomy and Decision-Making
by Neida Albornoz-Arias, Camila Rojas-Sanguino and Akever-Karina Santafe-Rojas
Soc. Sci. 2025, 14(8), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080469 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 2241
Abstract
The empowerment of women in rural areas implies that they have power and control over their lives and participate in individual and collective decision-making. Empowerment depends on autonomy or the ability to act independently. The lack or weakness of autonomy is due to [...] Read more.
The empowerment of women in rural areas implies that they have power and control over their lives and participate in individual and collective decision-making. Empowerment depends on autonomy or the ability to act independently. The lack or weakness of autonomy is due to traditional gender roles in rural communities, which reinforce norms and expectations that restrict women, limiting their empowerment and ability to make informed and effective decisions. This context fosters the creation of unequal power structures and women’s dependence on male figures. This article explores the relationship between autonomy and decision-making capacity in rural women. Through a review using the PRISMA approach, we analysed whether the absence of autonomy limits empowerment and decision-making. A total of 141 records were identified, and after excluding duplicate documents, those with no relation to the population and the purpose of this article, 35 articles with research results were included in this review. The categories addressed were empowerment, autonomy, decision-making and sustainable development, the latter emerging in the reviewed literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Precarious Work to Decent Work)
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