3F Trade Union. The experience of working with migrant precarity in the Danish construction industry.
Author
Dehoff, Diana Ana Maria
Term
4. term
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-05-13
Pages
61
Abstract
This master’s thesis explores how professionals at Denmark’s 3F trade union experience and address the precarious working conditions of migrant construction workers. Building on a review of research and regulation and qualitative narrative interviews with 3F staff, analyzed thematically within a social-constructivist and hermeneutic approach, the study examines union practices and perceptions in a sector without a statutory minimum wage. The findings indicate strong attention to tackling economic exploitation and securing better pay through collective bargaining, but comparatively less focus on other critical dimensions of precarity such as housing, workplace safety, health, and discrimination. The analysis also identifies perceptual biases and a degree of resignation toward systemic challenges, which may limit comprehensive advocacy. The thesis recommends broadening union strategies beyond wages, strengthening cultural competence, and deepening collaboration with institutional partners to better protect migrant workers. Overall, it calls for integrated policy and practice changes that align with the complex realities of modern labor markets.
Denne masterafhandling undersøger, hvordan fagprofessionelle i 3F oplever og håndterer de prekære arbejdsvilkår for migrantarbejdere i den danske byggebranche. Med udgangspunkt i en litteraturgennemgang af forskning og regulering samt kvalitative, narrative interviews med 3F-medarbejdere, analyseret tematisk inden for en socialkonstruktivistisk og hermeneutisk ramme, belyser studiet faglige praksisser og opfattelser i en sektor uden lovbestemt mindsteløn. Resultaterne peger på stor opmærksomhed mod at bekæmpe økonomisk udnyttelse og sikre bedre løn gennem kollektive overenskomster, men relativt mindre fokus på andre væsentlige aspekter af prekariatet som boligforhold, arbejdsmiljø og sikkerhed, sundhed og diskrimination. Analysen identificerer også opfattelsesbias og en vis resignation over for systemiske udfordringer, som kan begrænse helhedsorienteret interessevaretagelse. Afhandlingen anbefaler at udvide unionens strategier ud over løn, styrke kulturel kompetence og øge samarbejdet med institutionelle partnere for at beskytte migrantarbejdere mere effektivt. Overordnet opfordres der til integrerede politiske og praktiske tiltag, der matcher den moderne arbejdsmarkeds kompleksitet.
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