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Precarity and Subcontracting Relationships: The Case of Parcel Delivery Drivers in France

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  • Pétronille Rème-Harnay

Abstract

This article seeks to show, taking the example of delivery drivers, how inter-firm relations affect worker precarity. It is based on an in-depth field study carried out in the Paris region and backed up by the statistical analysis of national surveys. It focuses in particular on the role played by firms’ dependence in the precarity of work and employment, considering that both dependence and precarity should be considered ubiquitous. It then seeks to measure this dependence and highlight the factors that may increase it as the relative size of the firms, the chain of dependence and the position of firms in this chain. In this way, it sets out to show why the contractual status of employees can no longer provide job security in the context of unbalanced subcontracting relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Pétronille Rème-Harnay, 2024. "Precarity and Subcontracting Relationships: The Case of Parcel Delivery Drivers in France," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(3), pages 596-614, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:38:y:2024:i:3:p:596-614
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170221142721
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Corinne Perraudin & Héloïse Petit & Nadine Thevenot & Bruno Tinel & Julie Valentin, 2014. "Inter-firm dependency and employment inequalities: Theoretical hypotheses and empirical tests on French subcontracting relationships," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00772536, HAL.
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    6. Pétronille Harnay & Cecilia Cruz & Laetitia Dablanc, 2014. "La sous-traitance de la messagerie urbaine : logiques économiques et rapports de dépendance," Post-Print hal-01314887, HAL.
    7. Bernard Baudry, 1992. "Contrat, autorité et confiance. La relation de sous-traitance est-elle assimilable à la relation d'emploi ?," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 43(5), pages 871-894.
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