Temporary Agency Work and Precarious Employment: A Review of the Current Situation in Australia and New Zealand

John Burgess; Julia Connell; Erling Rasmussen

doi:10.5771/0935-9915-2005-3-351

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- 295–298 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 295–298
- 299–303 Flexible Work = Atypical Work = Precarious Work? Introduction to the Special Issue Werner Nienhueser Werner Nienhueser 299–303
- 304–323 Atypical Employment and Flexicurity Berndt Keller, Hartmut Seifert Berndt Keller, Hartmut Seifert 304–323
- 324–350 When Non-Standard Work Becomes Precarious: Insights from the New Zealand Call Centre Industry Zeenobiyah Hannif, Felicity Lamm Zeenobiyah Hannif, Felicity Lamm 324–350
- 351–369 Temporary Agency Work and Precarious Employment: A Review of the Current Situation in Australia and New Zealand John Burgess, Julia Connell, Erling Rasmussen John Burgess, Julia Connell, Erling Rasmussen 351–369
- 370–388 Temporary Agency Work, the Changing Employment Relationship and its Impact on Human Resource Management Lars W. Mitlacher Lars W. Mitlacher 370–388
- 389–403 Low-skill Work in Flux Karen Jaehrling, Claudia Weinkopf Karen Jaehrling, Claudia Weinkopf 389–403
- 404–422 Flexibility, Dual Labour Markets, and Temporary Employment. Empirical Evidence from German Establishment Data Christian Pfeifer Christian Pfeifer 404–422
- 423–424 Book Review 423–424
- 425–428 New Books 425–428
Durchsuchen Sie das Werk
Geben Sie ein Keyword in die Suchleiste ein
CC-BY Access

mrev management revue , page 351 - 369

Temporary Agency Work and Precarious Employment: A Review of the Current Situation in Australia and New Zealand

Autoren

John Burgess Julia Connell Erling Rasmussen

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/0935-9915-2005-3-351
- ISSN: 0935-9915
- ISSN online: 1861-9908
Abstract

This paper reviews three key issues associated with temporary agency work (referred to as agency work herewith) by drawing on Australian and New Zealand trends and experiences. First, the authors contend that it is surprising, in light of its high flexibility, that agency work constitutes a relatively small proportion of total employment in both countries. This article presents several reasons which can provide an explanation for employers' relatively limited use of agency employment. These reasons also show that agency work must be seen as part of the wider expansion of atypical employment arrangements. Second, the paradoxical mix of glamour and precariousness often associated with agency work is discussed. While labour flexibility is often associated with insecurity and precariousness, there are also advantageous forms of agency employment for all parties concerned. Consequently, this article provides an overview of recent research findings. It is evident from the research literature on agency work that there is either an emphasis on its precarious nature or on the individual preferences and choices of the temps themselves. In many countries, extensive regulatory arrangements exist that govern both the agency sector and the agency employment contract. This is not the case, however, in Australia and New Zealand and the effects of this unregulated approach are discussed as is the possibility of regulatory interventions that could be introduced at a future date.
Share