Social security of women workers in informal sector: perspective of structure agency

Abstract

Thailand, after economic crisis since 1990, the women workers have been dismissed. Majors' reasons were elderly, inappropriate skill and experience shortage. So many women workers scattered to informal sector. According to Nation statistic official, in 2002 the survey found that the number of subcontracted home based workers are the highest in the Northeast. Those women workers have been affected to social security for example, welfare, violence, health and social-economic their family. In addition, problems of health and safety in work place caused by risk of production the informal sector. This article aimed to analyze women workers in informal sector perspective that influenced to social security from structure and agency base on structuration theory's Anthony Giddens. This Study was the qualitative research, data collection by the qualitative method. Uisng methods data collect consist to participation observation, in-depth interview and documents analysis. The participatants were 15 northeastern women working in rural area Loei province, Thailand, during march-April in 2009. The data was analyzed using content analysis. Finding. Three important perspectives that influence social security of women workers informal sector from structure and agemcy were consisit of risk, poverty, right and responbility. Risk in women workers perspectives that indicate 3 elements such as without impropriated income. Right and responbility represent accessibility, equity. Conclusion, women's live Experiences were produced from both structure and agency. On the other hand, women could reproduce from both structure and agency. On the other hand women could reproduce social condition and social action. As a result there could contribute to gender inequity. Results of this study provide an understanding of social security of women workers in informal sector at rural area and further study will explore how women work create theier social security.