My madam: same race, different class: living and working conditions of undocumented, migrant BaSotho domestic workers employed in black middle class houshold
- Madonsela, Koketso Njabulo Gosiame
- Authors: Madonsela, Koketso Njabulo Gosiame
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Black women household empoyees -- South Africa , Black employers -- South Africa , Women household employees -- South Africa , Women, Sotho -- Employment -- South Africa , Businesspeople, Black -- South Africa , Migrant labor -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Master and servant -- South Africa , Women, Black -- Employment -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/35166 , vital:24337
- Description: Jacklyn Cock’s Maids and Madams is a study on domestic work in the Eastern Cape which places a focus on black domestic workers who work in white families. Cock’s study was ground-breaking research within labour development in South Africa (with regards to domestic service). The apartheid system regarded domestic work as that of social reproduction: domestic workers left their families to replenish and reproduce the labour power of white families, whose members were employed in a formal workplace. The contribution to this system, according to Cock (1989), was unbreakable because they did not earn enough money to disrupt the system. The respondents of this thesis are undocumented migrant Basotho domestic workers. These domestic workers have much in common with Cock’s respondents. For one, they leave their homes and families to replenish the labour power of black middle class families, whose members are employed in a formal workplace. The difference between this thesis and Cock’s study is that the respondents’ employers are members of the black middle class. Furthermore, the employees are undocumented Basotho domestic workers. Undocumented, migrant, Basotho domestic workers are in a similarly vulnerable position to that of Cock’s respondents. This dissertation engages with the extent to which Maids and Madams is still relevant to the living and working conditions of a new vulnerable workforce in the domestic sector: undocumented, female, Basotho domestic workers employed in black, middle-class households in Gauteng. The dissertation also finds that the relationship between the black migrant domestic worker and the black middle class employer is influenced cultural aspects of what domestic chores represent in black families, and the element of respect from employers (particularly to elderly domestic workers) or lack thereof. This dissertation underlines that the term “ousi” makes the Basotho domestic workers a collective, and not individuals. Thus the term “ousi” can be viewed as the term that takes away the identity of the domestic worker. The theoretical framework of the research is labour process theory (LPT). The new wave of labour process theorists are much more focused on the service industry. LPT is significant to this research because its focus is on the subjective experiences of the workers. This is the core purpose of the thesis. The focus of the new wave LPT involves a shift from understanding workers at a macro level to understanding the subjective experiences of the workers (in the service industry) at a micro level. This provides an appropriate framework to study the subjective working and living experiences of undocumented, migrant, Basotho domestic workers. The research design is based on qualitative research. The research made use of in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The selection of respondents was done through purposive sampling. They findings of this research highlighted the central themes in the relevant literature. However, the key findings of this research also reveal tensions and contradictions that are not explored in detail in the existing literature. For example, the relationship between the black middle class employer and the black domestic worker has tensions which originate from a cultural context. The respondents of this dissertation and their employers are of the same race, yet are of a different class.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Madonsela, Koketso Njabulo Gosiame
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Black women household empoyees -- South Africa , Black employers -- South Africa , Women household employees -- South Africa , Women, Sotho -- Employment -- South Africa , Businesspeople, Black -- South Africa , Migrant labor -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Master and servant -- South Africa , Women, Black -- Employment -- South Africa , Industrial relations -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/35166 , vital:24337
- Description: Jacklyn Cock’s Maids and Madams is a study on domestic work in the Eastern Cape which places a focus on black domestic workers who work in white families. Cock’s study was ground-breaking research within labour development in South Africa (with regards to domestic service). The apartheid system regarded domestic work as that of social reproduction: domestic workers left their families to replenish and reproduce the labour power of white families, whose members were employed in a formal workplace. The contribution to this system, according to Cock (1989), was unbreakable because they did not earn enough money to disrupt the system. The respondents of this thesis are undocumented migrant Basotho domestic workers. These domestic workers have much in common with Cock’s respondents. For one, they leave their homes and families to replenish the labour power of black middle class families, whose members are employed in a formal workplace. The difference between this thesis and Cock’s study is that the respondents’ employers are members of the black middle class. Furthermore, the employees are undocumented Basotho domestic workers. Undocumented, migrant, Basotho domestic workers are in a similarly vulnerable position to that of Cock’s respondents. This dissertation engages with the extent to which Maids and Madams is still relevant to the living and working conditions of a new vulnerable workforce in the domestic sector: undocumented, female, Basotho domestic workers employed in black, middle-class households in Gauteng. The dissertation also finds that the relationship between the black migrant domestic worker and the black middle class employer is influenced cultural aspects of what domestic chores represent in black families, and the element of respect from employers (particularly to elderly domestic workers) or lack thereof. This dissertation underlines that the term “ousi” makes the Basotho domestic workers a collective, and not individuals. Thus the term “ousi” can be viewed as the term that takes away the identity of the domestic worker. The theoretical framework of the research is labour process theory (LPT). The new wave of labour process theorists are much more focused on the service industry. LPT is significant to this research because its focus is on the subjective experiences of the workers. This is the core purpose of the thesis. The focus of the new wave LPT involves a shift from understanding workers at a macro level to understanding the subjective experiences of the workers (in the service industry) at a micro level. This provides an appropriate framework to study the subjective working and living experiences of undocumented, migrant, Basotho domestic workers. The research design is based on qualitative research. The research made use of in-depth and semi-structured interviews. The selection of respondents was done through purposive sampling. They findings of this research highlighted the central themes in the relevant literature. However, the key findings of this research also reveal tensions and contradictions that are not explored in detail in the existing literature. For example, the relationship between the black middle class employer and the black domestic worker has tensions which originate from a cultural context. The respondents of this dissertation and their employers are of the same race, yet are of a different class.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The extension of employment rights to employees who work unlawfully
- Authors: Gauss, Tanja Claudine
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor contract -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Prostitutes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10212 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1569 , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor contract -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Prostitutes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Description: South Africa has over the years and particularly since the enactment of our new Constitution, attracted an increasing number of foreigners. One of the main problems associated with the large number of illegal immigrants in this country is that they are placing strain on South Africa‟s already scare resources such as housing and healthcare. A further problem is that these illegal immigrants are competing with South Africans for jobs which are already scarce, and thus aggravating the unemployment situation. Nevertheless, these illegal immigrants are being employed and by virtue of their circumstances are easily exploited and often the victims of cheap labour, corruption, eviction and assault. Given that these workers are illegal immigrants not in possession of the required work permits, their employment is prohibited by the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. They are thus illegal workers. Another category of illegal workers are those, predominantly women, who are employed in an industry which offers easy income with no contractual obligations – the prostitution industry. Despite the prohibition of prostitution by the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, the prostitution industry throughout South Africa continues to exist. These workers are also particularly vulnerable and easily exploited and abused by their employers. Illegal immigrants and sex workers in South Africa have until recently been denied access to the protection of our labour legislation, by virtue of the illegality of their employment contracts. However two recent controversial decisions, that of the Labour Court in the Discovery Health case, and that of the Labour Appeal Court in the Kylie case, have changed this position.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Gauss, Tanja Claudine
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor contract -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Prostitutes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10212 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1569 , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Labor contract -- South Africa , Illegal aliens -- South Africa , Prostitutes -- Legal status, laws, etc
- Description: South Africa has over the years and particularly since the enactment of our new Constitution, attracted an increasing number of foreigners. One of the main problems associated with the large number of illegal immigrants in this country is that they are placing strain on South Africa‟s already scare resources such as housing and healthcare. A further problem is that these illegal immigrants are competing with South Africans for jobs which are already scarce, and thus aggravating the unemployment situation. Nevertheless, these illegal immigrants are being employed and by virtue of their circumstances are easily exploited and often the victims of cheap labour, corruption, eviction and assault. Given that these workers are illegal immigrants not in possession of the required work permits, their employment is prohibited by the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. They are thus illegal workers. Another category of illegal workers are those, predominantly women, who are employed in an industry which offers easy income with no contractual obligations – the prostitution industry. Despite the prohibition of prostitution by the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, the prostitution industry throughout South Africa continues to exist. These workers are also particularly vulnerable and easily exploited and abused by their employers. Illegal immigrants and sex workers in South Africa have until recently been denied access to the protection of our labour legislation, by virtue of the illegality of their employment contracts. However two recent controversial decisions, that of the Labour Court in the Discovery Health case, and that of the Labour Appeal Court in the Kylie case, have changed this position.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »