Reta Barfuss is researching the downsides of part-time work as part of her doctoral studies at UZH. In an interview with Katia Soland, she explains how unwanted part-time work arises in the building cleaning sector and what mechanisms enable these precarious working conditions.
Many building cleaners work on minimum contracts of only 8 hours per week. Despite having several jobs and long working days, they often do not earn enough paid hours to cover their living expenses. Travel time is not compensated, cleaning times are too short, and incorrect pay slips are common.
Those affected are mostly women with a migrant background whose right of residence is tied to their employment. This one-sided dependency makes them particularly vulnerable. Reta analyses this exploitation from the perspective of racial capitalism.
In the Public Data Lab, Reta is working to make these invisible working conditions visible and to amplify the voices of cleaners.