Flexible labor market and the precariat work of foreign staff in Iceland

Abstract

In the last decades, the number of foreign citizens has grown in Icelandic labour market. Many of them have arrived to work in low income jobs in the growing tourism sector, in construction, production and care work. Indirect hiring through staffing agencies and service companies have become more common in Iceland than before. The goal of this article is to highlight the working conditions of these workers. The discussion is based on an ethnographic study, which included interviews with individuals with special knowledge of the topic because of their work experiences. The study shows that they have witnessed changes in the labour market which indicate a deteriorating position of foreign workers. The current diverse hiring practices make it difficult for the unions to check the potential breaking of the labour laws.