Modo de produção flexível, terceirização e precariedade subjetiva

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to support the hypothesis of a subjective precariousness as the main side of the outsourcing phenomenon. To do this, firstly we developed the argument that the outsourcing phenomenon should be analyzed as part of a larger historical process, characterized by the transformation of the Fordist mode of production into the flexible one. In the second part, we presented an analysis of the outsourcing phenomenon in a specific sector of the labor market, which is the telemarketing and call center operators, or as we call, the telemarketers. In order to do this, we performed a literature review of books and articles, as well as a documentary analysis based on the files of the Health Department of the Telecommunications Laborer’s Union from Rio de Janeiro (Sinttel-Rio) and on data from the Brazilian Social Security database. In this part, we aimed to understand the operating logic of the outsourced companies in this sector, and the relation between work and illness, typical of this field of activity. In the last part, we analyzed the correspondence between outsourcing and subjective insecurity, which according to our analysis is evident in fragmentation of social bonds, growth of psychological harassment, fear of exclusion, extreme vigilance, lack of autonomy, competitive individualism and impotence.