Temporary agency work: from genesis to institutional consecration

Abstract

Temporary agency work is an unusual form of employment that has grown around the world over the past six decades. As an instrument of precariousness in labour relations, temporary work must be analysed not only in light of its current reality, but also taking into account its historical origins. This article seeks to situate the evolution of the sector in advanced capitalist countries, paying attention to its wider insertion in the world of work and subsequent state regulation. Employer and union strategies are also highlighted, which are extremely important for understanding the accelerated growth of temporary agency work.