The correlates of precarious working conditions in the Mexican nursing labour market from 2005 to 2018: A repeated cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim To analyse sociodemographic and labour correlates of labour precariousness among Mexican nurses from 2005 to 2018. Background The progressive loss of labour rights has led to a situation characterized by precarious working conditions among health workers globally. Methods A repeated cross-sectional and population-based study was carried out (N = 3,699,282). A generalized ordinal logistic regression model was estimated to assess correlates of precariousness. Precariousness was defined as a non-weighted score of the sum of five dichotomous variables: (a) non-written contract; (b) income lower than two times the minimum wage; (c) with a partial or an extended workday; (d) without social benefits; and (e) without social security. Results The labour precariousness level increased during the studied period, particularly among the younger and the older, the single ones and among those located in suburban and rural areas. Nurses with lower levels of training were more exposed to precarious conditions, as well as those with jobs in private health institutions or working outside the health sector. Conclusions Precarious work is considered a combination of global and local labour factors, including the lack of protective labour policies in health institutions, which calls for the development of a public policy to protect jobs in the health sector. Implications for Nursing Management Given that precarious work is considered a combination of global and local labour factors, including the lack of protective labour policies in health institutions, public health institutions should avoid nursing outsourcing employment as much as possible, and full-time contracts should respect the fundamental international and country-specific labour rights.