A Study on Redefining Flexicurity: Flexibility and Work Security

Labor market flexibility seems to be preferable on the unilateral perspective. The approach of flexibility can differ with one’s interests; one approach being flexible, the other being rigid. In other words, if labor markets are flexible on the employer’s perspective, the labor markets on the employee’s perspective need to be rigid in order to make a balance. As a result, flexibility conflicts with job security. This paper proposes that a new alternative strategy, work security, enables many countries to adjust labor market flexibility. Work security, a more expansive concept, means that prospective or unemployed workers should have the opportunity to get another job with required training provided by the government, employers, and unions. For this system to work, the three types of organizations have to discuss how prospective workers or unemployed workers will be able to find a job. Work security consists of two parts: before and after hiring. Work security ‘before hiring’ is especially important for job creation for vulnerable social groups in the labor market such as the youth, women, and the elderly. James E. Shafer, Structural Change in Central and Eastern Europe: Labour Market and Social Policy Implications, 13 Int’l Tax & Bus. Law. 91, 92 (Book Review, 1995) (explaining that vulnerable groups are viewed as older workers, young people, and women in Europe). On the other hand, work security ‘after hiring’ involves workers who want to change their position and those who will be unemployed and in need of a new job. Moreover, contingent contracts such as fixed-term and part-time workers are widespread in the world. Their rights and benefits are much more unstable compared to full-time workers. Many countries need some policies, regulations, and organizations which help take care of the prospective workers and unemployed workers through training and education. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide people with jobs, workers with job mobility, and unemployed people with re-employment opportunities while work security combines with labor market flexibility.