Abstract

AIMETTA, Corina. Carting: ¿A work or rather a chance to earn some money?. Trab. soc. [online]. 2009, n.12. ISSN 1514-6871.

This article is part of a wider study, the general scope of which is to look into conceptions of what work means from the point of view of workers and identify work strategies used and social ties related with different  working activities. In this respect,we make a comparative  study of two activities executed by independent workers: the cart drivers or carters* and the independent construction workers. Both fields have a strong presence in "Barrio Esperanza", a neigborhood of Gran La Plata, the conurbation of La Plata, where field work is made. Methodological approach used is a qualitative one. In said approach , we are producing observations as well as partly structured interviews and informal conversations with carters, maily adult men. This time we present some reflections elaborated on the questions arised during the investigative process when approaching the neiborhood carters and the academic bibliography, as well as the press and several State documents ( Programs, Laws, Rules, etc.), related with said themes. We question on what is the sense the carters themselves give to the activity they make and how said activity is visualized from other social agents. We consider in this respect that in both cases the stress in placed constantly in the cathegories work/ chance to earn money or work/non work.

Keywords : Labour precariousness; Carters; Familiar strategies of reproduction; Poverty.

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