Primary and Secondary Labor Market - Essay Example

Primary/Secondary Labor Markets A primary labor market is characterized by high wages, highly skilled manpower, careers that are long lasting and employee social security. Another basic definition is that a primary labor market is a job that require formal education. An example is careers like finance and accounting. Trades that require skills such as plumbing and technical repairs are also included in this labor market. The contrast between a primary and a secondary labor market is that secondary markets are characterized by low paying jobs, temporary employment and limited skills of the manpower. The work force in a primary market is mainly motivated by incentives such as health benefits, insurance policies and pension funds. The employees often try to prove their education and skills to their employers. Subsequently, the significance of a primary labor market is the provision and support of a skilled labor force in the economy. As such, this labor force steers economic growth in all sectors and stimulate innovativeness and technological advancement as they outsmart each other to impress their employers (Rubin). A secondary labor market compromises of a high employee turn-over, low paying wages, semi-skilled employees and temporary form of employment. These blue collar jobs may be performed by students or other people with limited educational qualifications. Rick Edwards in his book named Contested Terrain says that management in a secondary labor market treat the employees as interchangeable parts. If they dislike their jobs the employees are free to leave. This leads to a high staff turn-over in these markets. The significance of this labor market is provision of employment to many people and thus a reduction on the dependence on the government for financial help to sustain lives and livelihoods. Social Evolution/Social Darwinism In the 19th century, Herbert Spencer advanced the social evolution idea. Social Darwinism is the use of the theory of natural selection of species to issues of economic, social and political nature. Social Darwinism follows the mantra of survival of the fittest. This survival also apply in the human species. The idea was used in promotion of the white race being superior to other races and thus justified to colonize them. The idea of social evolution holds that the weak species in the environment will eventually suffer and go into extinction. Only the strong species are able to withstand the environmental pressures and hardships. Those species acquire adaptive features that ensures their survival. They thus rule over the weak species who crush under pressure and go into extinction. Evolution theory holds that nature is a system of kill or be killed. The species that cannot keep up with environmental pressure are cut off. This aspect has been used to justify antisocial actions such as the Nazis holocaust where the Jews who were seen as the weak species were killed. The Nazi justified this as a way of eliminating a genetically inferior race. Other dictators world-wide have used Social Darwinism to justify their criminal activities. This raises a lot of moral questions in application of science in the society. The accord/ collective bargaining This is the process of negotiations between an employer and a group of employees to reach an agreement on the terms of employment. A trade union is used to present the employees’ interests and welfare. The collective agreements reached after negotiations defines the employees’ hours of work, wages and other allowances, health benefits, training and promotions and safety at work among others. The collective bargaining agreement functions as a contract between the employer and employee trade union(s). The process of bargaining involves the union’s representatives with the employer’s management team to set out the terms of the collective agreement. The origin of collective bargaining was in 1891 by Beatrice Webb, who was a founder of labor relations in Britain. It meant that the employers and a representative of the union had to sit and negotiate terms of employment for the benefit of both the employer and the employees. The significance of collective bargaining is to regulate labor relations at work places. It aims to ensure that the employees are safe and satisfied with their working conditions. The employer benefits from a satisfied work force that is able to perform its work sufficiently and an efficient method of dispute resolution where all the parties are involved in solving a problem at work place. Collective bargaining gives the employees a voice without facing discrimination from the employers. It is unethical for an employer to suck employees for involving their trade union in solving their issues. Employees have a right to participate in the union’s affairs without discrimination. Flexible/Just in time production This is a strategic production that aim to improve the returns of the business by cutting down on inventory costs and other associated costs such as the carrying and holding costs. The process works by manufacturing only the products that are required by customers. Production is based on customer orders and no products are made in advance. Demand stimulates production in this type of production. Raw materials are obtained after customers place their orders and only the required materials to complete the customer orders are procured. Just in time production saves on inventory costs since the cost of holding stock such insurance, pilferage, obsolesce and maintenance costs of stock and inventory are eliminated. The concept of flexible production originated in Japan in 1950s. Toyota has used it successfully by raising production and eliminating waste. To meet its objectives, just in time process relies on signals at different points involved in the process. These signals notify the process when to make the next item. The significance of this process is increased productivity and profits by eliminating wastes in the production process. Products are made to customer orders and thus quality and customer satisfaction is achieved. It also increases the production efficiency in the company. It eliminates wastage of resources and unnecessary costs such as Inventory holding costs. American Dream/Fordism This refers to the national ethos upheld by the United States of America. They are a set of ideals where freedom is associated with availing opportunities for success and prosperity and a social mobility that aims at climbing the ladder of success. Social mobility is only attained through hard work and strong work ethics. James Truslow Adams in 1931 describes the dream to include a better, fuller life for all Americans. According to James, every person should have an opportunity to achieve their goals despite their social classification or background. The American dream idea is rooted in the US ‘declaration for independence that states that all men are created as equal and are endowed by God with specific unalienable rights that include right to life, freedom and a right to pursue happiness(Amitai). The meaning of this dream has changed with time and history. It now includes personal components such as home ownership and a global vision. The ethos currently imply that Americans have an opportunity to achieve prosperity through hard work. According to the American Dream, this includes chances of the children to go to school and obtain a good education and careers without any external barrier. Individuals have the opportunity to make their choices without limitations such as social classes, racial discrimination, caste and religion. The dream promotes personal liberty and enjoyment of fundamental rights. It promotes achievement for individual success and prosperity through hard work. It calls for unity among American citizens to realize this dream in their life time. Works Cited Rubin, Beth A. Shifts in the social contract: Understanding change in American society. 1995. Shifts in the social contract: Understanding change in American society. SAGE Publications,, 1995. Print Sathyamurthy, T. V. "Social Change: sources, patterns and consequences edited by Amitai and Eva Etzioni New York and London, Basic Books, 1964. Pp. xiv+ 503. $6.95." The Journal of Modern African Studies 3.04 (2000): 628-629. Read More