Centralisation through decentralisation: The use of subcontracted labour in the light of the intensification of managerial control

Abstract

The aim of this article is to shed more light on some of the ways in which subcontracted labour is organised by proposing four typologies as possible descriptive models. It is argued that the use of subcontracted labour is largely a form of managerial control, but that it inherently has certain ‘limits’ the system has been abolished in some cases for other modes of managerial control. It is also argued that the introduction of sophisticated information technology (IT) can address these ‘limits’ to a certain extent, and can be seen as a contributing factor that might account for the increase of subcontracted labour used in tandem with other forms of managerial control. The article provides a short overview of relevant South African debates. A discussion of different case studies, both from local and international authors, follows to illustrate the four typologies developed. Recent developments in some of the debates on managerial control in the labour process are discussed, especially arguments dealing with information technology (IT). The argument is concluded with comments on the implications of new modes of managerial control for labour-only subcontracting and possible implications for the labour movement in South Africa.

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