Abstract

DEL AGUILA, Álvaro. Ethnicity and class among Paraguayan immigrants in the construction industry of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. Trab. soc. [online]. 2014, n.23, pp.439-463. ISSN 1514-6871.

This paper aims to contribute to the analysis of class and ethnic relations within the construction industry in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The construction industry constitutes an important employment niche for migrants from neighboring countries, yet we know very little about the culture, life, and work of immigrants in this industry. Based on ethnographic work conducted in several construction sites between 2006 and 2012 this paper analyzes the formation of a specific ethnic and class group among construction workers, a group with strong ties to their rural origins. This paper also analyzes the dimensions of exploitation of this labor force, emphasizing in particular the derogatory discourse construction used to refer to and describe immigrant workers. These discourses usually serve as legitimating devices for their exploitation.

Keywords : Construction industry; Immigration; Paraguay; Class; Ethnicity.

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