Working conditions and work environment of workers in retail businesses of la araucanía, chile

Abstract

In this paper, an analysis of the working conditions and the working/post-work environment of workers in commercial shops in La Araucanía is developed. The focus of this study was identifying gender inequalities in these two dimensions of retail that is increasingly taking center as economic sector in Chilean society. On the basis of a quantitative methodology, workers from five retail companies in the region were contacted (n=205), who answered a survey consisting of six sections. Among the main results -which were analyzed as particular variables- it is relevant to mention that there was a high level of precariousness regarding to working conditions; gender differences in health services; double feminized working hours; dissatisfaction related to routinely work in the company and gender wage gaps.