Low-status work consequences on immigrant workers' organization: the cases of five immigrant groups in Athens

Abstract

The article centres on the repercussions low-prestige work has on the collective organization and representation of immigrant workers. This micro-sociological analysis focuses on the cases of Egyptian, Albanian, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and Philippine immigrants in Athens and how the frame of their work and their employment affects their participation in their immigrant work associations. Evidence from in-depth interviews proves that the majority of immigrants do not claim established workers' rights and do not seek membership in any unions. On the contrary, they rely on a network of friends and relatives for support and develop individual behaviours and alternative solutions to achieve survival and protection.

Keywords:

• immigrants
• low-status work
• immigrant work associations
• representation
• decollectivization

Notes

1. The study (03/11/2004–18/01/2010) is a PhD project which empirically focuses on the ramifications of work and employment in low-status jobs on the collective organization and representation of immigrant workers in Athens, Greece.

2. Total population in Attica: Egypt: 7.187, Albania: 209.333, Bangladesh: 4.767, Palestine 1.423, and Philippines: 6.484 (Maloutas 2010).