To echo the recent article by Stéphane Baillargeon on the precariat (“Portrait of the precarious intellectual”, April 30), the level of education and the ardor at work are often evoked to explain, even justify, the socio-economic status. economic status of a person (poverty or affluence, precariousness or job security), whereas it is often supply and demand, abundance or scarcity of personnel for a given sector, which determine the value of an economic activity. There is also the cultural factor (rightly or wrongly, society valuing certain trades more than others) and the balance of power between bosses and unions which influence wages and job security. The saying “Who gets educated gets richer” is therefore more or less relevant to describe today’s world of work.
Once we have measured the extent of precariat, determined its causes, its consequences, it remains to imagine solutions to improve the quality of life of those affected. Tax reform? Reform of the Labor Code? Increase in the minimum wage? Increase in pensions? Price regulation or free basic necessities and services (public transport, gasoline, housing, post-secondary education, dental care, etc.)?
At a time when inflation and the housing crisis are hitting people in precarious situations head-on, and after, according to Oxfam-Québec, Canadian billionaires have become 57% richer during the pandemic, these are very important questions. policies that should concern us during the next Quebec election campaign.
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