ABSTRACT

Agency workers (AWs) were originally employed on a substitutional and short-term contract basis, but recently they are found to be employed on a long-term purpose in Nigeria. Although agency labour helps solve recruitment challenges, it correspondingly erodes employment relations and causes conflicts across employers, trade unions and agency workers. As such, the current research aimed to examine the rise of AWs and analyse its influence on the union’s representation. The samples were 36 respondents (management, agency workers and trade unions) recruited from three oil multinational companies in Nigeria and were interviewed. Research data were analysed through thematic analysis and NVivo, revealing three important findings. First, AWs were often asked to take the posts which used to be taken by the permanent staff, but without the right to join the union. Second, the unions did not welcome AWs and concerned its implication on the recruitment of permanent staff. Third, AWs were reluctant to join the unions as their contract might not be renewed. Research findings brought new insights into the literature of agency workers. Managers are reminded that AWs are suffering from the issues identified above. Any management strategies will not reach their maximum effect unless these issues are rectified.

摘要

代理商工人（AWs）最初是以替代合同和短期合同的形式雇用的，但最近在尼日利亚发现他们是长期雇用的。尽管中介机构的劳动力有助于解决招聘难题，但它相应地侵蚀了雇佣关系，并在雇主，工会和中介机构的工人之间引起了冲突。因此，当前的研究旨在检查AW的上升，并分析其对工会代表制的影响。样本是从尼日利亚的三个石油跨国公司招募的36名受访者（管理层，机构工作者和工会）进行的。通过主题分析和NVivo对研究数据进行了分析，揭示了三个重要发现。首先，经常要求AW担任常任职员以前的职位，但没有加入工会的权利。第二，工会不欢迎阿拉伯妇女联盟，并关注其对招募长期工作人员的影响。第三，AW不愿加入工会，因为他们的合同可能不会续签。研究结果为中介工作者的文献带来了新的见解。提醒管理人员，AW正在遭受上述问题的困扰。除非纠正了这些问题，否则任何管理策略都不会发挥最大作用。