“Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon
Based on qualitative research conducted in the construction sector in Douala, Cameroon, this article analyses the contractual practices that underpin employment relationships between construction actors. The aim is to provide an account of the social dynamics that lead to the differentiation of empl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Africa Spectrum |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/00020397241272223 |
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| _version_ | 1850267972214456320 |
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| author | Ludovic Bakebek |
| author_facet | Ludovic Bakebek |
| author_sort | Ludovic Bakebek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on qualitative research conducted in the construction sector in Douala, Cameroon, this article analyses the contractual practices that underpin employment relationships between construction actors. The aim is to provide an account of the social dynamics that lead to the differentiation of employment conditions in the construction sector beyond the binary categorisations that set formal against informal in analyses of African labour markets. The central argument here is that, beyond formality, the relationship between stability/protection and uncertainty/precariousness is based on the category of status, defined as the “perceived quality” of workers. Employment relationships based on status are organised through interrelated legal, social, and moral norms (inter-normativity) that contribute to differentiating socio-professional experiences. This is illustrated through a series of case studies, ranging from the salaried segment of the construction sector to the large market of auto-construction dominated by micro-entrepreneurs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84f2e0d83ca54f26a68f5c5448537ac2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0002-0397 1868-6869 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Africa Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj-art-84f2e0d83ca54f26a68f5c5448537ac22025-08-20T01:53:35ZengSAGE PublishingAfrica Spectrum0002-03971868-68692024-12-015910.1177/00020397241272223“Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, CameroonLudovic BakebekBased on qualitative research conducted in the construction sector in Douala, Cameroon, this article analyses the contractual practices that underpin employment relationships between construction actors. The aim is to provide an account of the social dynamics that lead to the differentiation of employment conditions in the construction sector beyond the binary categorisations that set formal against informal in analyses of African labour markets. The central argument here is that, beyond formality, the relationship between stability/protection and uncertainty/precariousness is based on the category of status, defined as the “perceived quality” of workers. Employment relationships based on status are organised through interrelated legal, social, and moral norms (inter-normativity) that contribute to differentiating socio-professional experiences. This is illustrated through a series of case studies, ranging from the salaried segment of the construction sector to the large market of auto-construction dominated by micro-entrepreneurs.https://doi.org/10.1177/00020397241272223 |
| spellingShingle | Ludovic Bakebek “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon Africa Spectrum |
| title | “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon |
| title_full | “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon |
| title_short | “Status,” Inter-Normativity, and Socio-Professional Differentiation among Construction Workers in Douala, Cameroon |
| title_sort | status inter normativity and socio professional differentiation among construction workers in douala cameroon |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/00020397241272223 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ludovicbakebek statusinternormativityandsocioprofessionaldifferentiationamongconstructionworkersindoualacameroon |