"
Vulnerable workers work: through a temporary agency, as ‘independent contractors,' in sequential short term employment, in multiple jobs, in non-permanent part-time work, in self-employment when the worker does not hire anyone else. In many cases, these workers do the same tasks as permanent workers, have the same workload, and work along side one another."
(Little, D.,
Vulnerable workers: The legal challenge, 2005, visited 2011-03-21)
In addition, precarious work is highly racialized and gendered: visible minorities and recent immigrants are much more likely to be found in low-paying, vulnerable work. Migrant workers are especially vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking.
(adapted from Canada Labour Code,
, visited 2009-05-14)
"Current employment legislation means that some groups of workers are not afforded the same employment rights as other workers. Therefore, while certain workers may be deemed as vulnerable, their employers are not necessarily operating unlawfully.
Vulnerable workers are more likely to come from the following occupational groups:
- temporary agency workers;
- other ‘atypical' workers such as casual workers and freelancers;
- young workers;
- industrial home workers;
- unpaid family workers;
- recent UK migrants;
- informal workers. "
(European Industrial Relations Observatory,
Trades Union Congress launches commission to monitor vulnerable workers, 2007, visited 2011-03-21)