Social Sustainability
Precarious Work
Definition
Precarious work is employment characterised by insecurity and inadequate protection: short-term or zero-hours contracts, informal or casual arrangements, low and unstable pay, limited access to social protection, and weak bargaining power. The ILO analyses such work through its decent work deficits framework, noting that precarious arrangements concentrate among women, migrants, young people and workers at the base of global supply chains.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Precarious Work” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The concept is used in labour statistics, supply chain due diligence (precarious tiers below audited factories), living wage campaigns and policy debates on labour flexibilisation.
Why it matters
Decent work (SDG 8) cannot be achieved while large shares of the workforce are precarious; addressing precarity is a core test of whether economic transitions are just.