MODERN DAY OUTSOURCING ENGAGEMENTS: THE NEED FOR A LEGAL INSTRUMENT TO ADDRESS THE PLIGHT OF CONTRACT WORKERS

Job engagement is an old phenomenon. Its style and modality may have witnessed changes over the years in different societies to reflect the dynamism in work concept and the changed needs of the major players in the labour market. Once, the number of the latter was restricted to two namely the employer and the employee. Today, a tripartite arrangement has evolved to add to the previous arrangement with the inclusion of an outsourcing recruitment agent. Also, the goals of the parties seemed not to have remained static. Whilst the earliest employer’s aim may have been centred solely on how to generate profit, today; his attention appeared drawn to the need to carve a niche in the world through his brand name. The contract worker who yesteryears worked mainly to assuage hunger, seemed attracted to other benefits such as growth in his area of speciality. The outlined style of work engagement as well as the diverse interests of the key players could be harnessed under a legal instrument. The objective of this paper is to bring to the fore the plight of part-time service providers which seemed neglected under outsourcing recruitment engagement. The paper adopted doctrinal research method in its analysis of the issues at stake and found that slave labour is depicted in contemporary outsourcing engagements. The paper recommends a review of the law on labour engagements to accommodate the changed perspective and to protect the interest of vulnerable workers.