SENSE-MAKING OF IMMIGRANT´S EMPLOYABILITY IN THE CLEANING SECTOR

Abstract

Abstract Thesis: 30 hp Program: Master Program in Strategic HRM and labour relations Level: Second Cycle Semester/year: St/2017 Supervisor: María José Zapata Campos Examiner: Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist Report No: xx (not to be filled in by the student/students) Keyword: Immigrants/sensemaking theory/employability/cleaning sector Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study immigrant labour integration, particularly in the cleaning business sector. Theory: The theoretical framework is based on Karl Weick sensemaking concept combined with the employability concept, as tools to analyse the process, interactions and results of identity construction of immigrants to search and get job particularly in the cleaning sector. As an attempt to understand this from a micro to a macro level, Dual labour market theory from Doeringer and Pierre is also used as an analytical tool. Method: This is a qualitative inductive research. Result: The results suggest that the personnel practices in cleaning companies is influenced by the size and the recruitment of the organization. Two types of recruitment practices were found a purposively recruitment based on ethnical background and standard open recruitment. These two types of recruitment lead to a homogeneous and heterogeneous organizational model based on ethnical diversity. Regarding immigrant´s employability the search for job is a process that entails to visualise themselves into an occupation within their abilities and limitations of the new context. The cleaning sector is an easy entrance to the labour market, but in a long run this career path limits their transition to primary sectors occupations. As immigrant employees in this sector do not develop or improve any skill in this occupation and end with the same skills as they entered to work.