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Toward managed flexibility: The revival of labour inspection in the Latin world
Author(s) -
PIORE Michael J.,
SCHRANK Andrew
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international labour review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.433
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1564-913X
pISSN - 0020-7780
DOI - 10.1111/j.1564-913x.2008.00021.x
Subject(s) - underpinning , flexibility (engineering) , latin americans , context (archaeology) , enforcement , labour law , work (physics) , vulnerability (computing) , temporary work , shock (circulatory) , business , labour economics , economics , political science , management , engineering , law , computer science , mechanical engineering , paleontology , civil engineering , computer security , biology , medicine
. Examining the role of labour inspection in the context of the revival of labour market regulation, the authors distinguish between the Latin model, where inspectors have authority to tailor enforcement to firms' exigencies, and the less flexible United States approach. The Latin model can reconcile regulation with economic flexibility and transform inspectors into the shock troops of a campaign for decent work. But its vulnerability to arbitrary behaviour on their part needs to be addressed through: management of organizational cultures; exposure and sys‐tematization of the tacit knowledge underpinning inspectors' judgements; and research into the relationship between labour standards and business practices.