Abstract

RINCON BECERRA, María T.  and  RODRIGUEZ COLMENARES, Isabel. Flexibilización Laboral en el sector salud: Una estrategia en la Gobernación del Zulia*. Gaceta Laboral [online]. 2005, vol.11, n.3, pp.333-357. ISSN 1315-8597.

Abstract Over the last decades of the 20^th century, Latin American countries have suffered transformations in the area of labour relations. The objective of this paper is to explore the labour-contract modalities which have favoured the implementation of labour flexibility on the part of the Zulia State Government in the health sector, over the decade of the 1990s. The research is descriptive, and is based on bibliographical and documentary review. The sample was made up of the Health Assitance Teaching Unit “Luis Sergio Perez”, the Ambulatory Hospital in San Francisco, and the Maracaibo Pediatric Specialties Foundation Hospital. The results reveal that the Zulia State Governors Office has developed a strategy composed of the following aspects: 1) internal flexibility resulting in numerical and salary considerations that affect the collective labour contract, 2) different types of contracts, individual contracts for periods of time and productivity, and 3) internal flexibility through labour contracting with small businesses and external sources. The conclusion is that the state government is attempting to reduce labour costs in detriment to the individual and collective rights of the public health sector labour unions under their direction.

Keywords : Labour flexibility; precariousness; individualization; sub-contracting; health sector; Venezuela.