Disability and the problem with low-skilled work

Abstract

"Low-skilled work has been a controversial subject for some time now, not only in the organisation concepts of companies, service facilities etc., but also in the theory and practice of various sciences dealing with problems of labour. From a political point of view, for instance from the point of view of labour market policy, this subject is already scarcely looked at from the aspects of effective activities promoting health and learning, but more under the general aspect of the integration of the labour force into work. In this connection one frequently comes across the actually problematic opinion that the disabled could be better integrated into work if more jobs with low-skilled work were available. Thus there is first a detailed discussion, backed up with empirical findings, of the fact that low-skilled work can by no means be regarded as being insignificant in its conditions and effects, but can really have negative consequences for people, especially for disabled people. The information available on this should not only be reflected in specialist sciences but should in particular be reflected in considerations related to employment policy matters. The latter would certainly succeed more if this knowledge were available in the form of a stock of suitable and ready-to-use solutions for an efficient and at the same time socially acceptable structuring of work. This is the case to a large extent but not across the board. Accordingly there is a subsequent description of how working structures which promote health and learning can be achieved by implementing solutions related to the organisation of work, and what positive effects these can be proved to have on coping with the demands of work, on motivation and strain as well as on the reduction of the amount of work lost due to sickness. This is followed by a discussion, covering aspects of contents and methods, of consequences for the occupational deployment of disabled people. Here, in particular for those who have successfully completed training in a state-recognised occupation, the main priority is to secure a work profile orientated towards their level of training or qualifications. In this way it is possible not only to combat effectively the loss of value of qualifications ('disuse effect') which occurs as a result of the qualifications and skills gained not being put to use, but also to achieve the positive effects mentioned above. Such successful occupational deployment of disabled people would, however, probably only be possible in most cases if it were done not merely 'on the basis of impressions' but as methodically as possible. The main stages of action for this are named and reference is made to the methodical procedures to be employed in individual cases." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Plath, H. (1997): Behinderung und das Problem mit der Einfacharbeit. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Vol. 30, No. 2, p. 424-431.