A new study from VUB’s BRISPO Research Group maps the relationship between precarious employment and mental health in the Belgian service voucher sector based on a survey of more than 1000 cleaning assistants. The article was published in March in the International Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health.
The service voucher system, a subsidized employment scheme, has experienced strong growth since its introduction in 2004 but is also known for poor working conditions for staff.
Public health issue
Today, there are approximately 150,000 full-time or part-time employees active in the service voucher sector. It mainly consists of low-skilled women, many of whom have a migration background. Cleaning work is by far the most important activity in the sector.
Work in cleaning is associated with significant health and safety risks (lifting heavy loads and working with toxic products). The research shows that domestic cleaners generally have poorer health. Back and muscle complaints, injuries, but also poor mental health are a quarter to twice as high when compared to the figures of the 'average Belgian worker'.
The research by Christophe Vanroelen, Jessie Gevaert, Kelly Huegaerts, Mattias Vos and Kim Bosmans (BRISPO-VUB), together with Eva Padrosa Sayeras (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), specifically examines the factors that can explain mental health problems among cleaning assistants.
Mental health damage due to poor working conditions
The research shows that precarious employment (i.e., the combination of factors such as uncertainty, low income, little voice, and poor relations with management) have a negative effect on mental health.
The research findings also show that there are significant differences within the sector in the extent to which domestic cleaners are exposed to precarious employment. However, if they work under precarious conditions, they also have a high chance of being exposed to other unfavourable working conditions (such as high workload, low autonomy, or heavier physical task requirements), which together lead to significantly poorer mental health compared to cleaners who work under better working conditions.
In addition, financial stress within the household also accounts for part of the explanation. Domestic cleaners with precarious working conditions experience more financial stress, while the mental health of cleaners from families where they can 'make ends meet' is somewhat better protected.
Good employers and a living wage make a difference
The findings from the research illustrate the importance of good employment conditions. The quality of employment conditions largely depends on the service voucher offices. By ensuring stability, voice, good scheduling of hours, a strong prevention and training policy, and correct administration of wages and (social) rights, they can make a big difference, ultimately having a positive impact on the mental health of their employees.
A better hourly wage and reducing the full-time workweek from 38 to 30 hours while maintaining wages and social security rights would also make a very positive contribution to the viability of jobs in the service voucher sector.
Source:
Vanroelen, C., Padrosa Sayeras, E., Gevaert, J., Huegaerts, K., Vos, M., & Bosmans, K. (2024). Precarious employment and mental health in the Belgian service voucher system: the role of working conditions and perceived financial strain. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. 97:435-450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-024-02057-z
E. Vandevenne & C. Vanroelen (2020): Overzichtsrapport EPRES-BE onderzoek: Wave 1. Interface Demography Working Paper No. 2020-02. Vakgroep SOCI, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11060085
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