Situação de trabalho em um shopping center de Uberlândia-MG

Abstract

This research aims to analyse some aspects of shopping centres’ retail workers’ situation of labour (working conditions). The analysis on labour conditions and labour relationships from shopping centres retail workers is the result of a participant observation research developed during 14 months in two stores at a shopping mall in the city of Uberlândia. Women and young people compose the dominant profile. In conclusion, the work of retail in the shopping centre is marked by violence and irregularities, extensive working hours, high turnover and constant contact with managers and owners. Salary that heavily relies on commissions generates a dispersed awareness of class relations, resentment, competition among workers, and builds a notion of “self-employment” that makes it difficult for the contradictions between work and capital to be perceived.