Governing the Production and Work through Standards. The Case of the Food Industry in Murcia

Abstract

Food production is integrated in the global agri-food chain and is characterized for its technological modernization and high productivity. The recent implementation of quality standards into the global agri-food chain have radically transformed their production processes and working conditions. Numerous studies have examined how the implementation of quality systems has led to a significant increase in the quality of products and of their production processes. However, some studies show that the increasing of the quality of products and processes has not necessarily led to a substantial improvement in the quality of employment nor to a de-casualization of working conditions. On the contrary, job insecurity and informal employment persist, and in some cases are accentuated by increasing control over processes and workers. This paper explores this hypothesis in the case of table grapes industry in the Region of Murcia.