Submitted by Juliana Tregnago (julianatregnago@gmail.com) on 2018-06-18T15:32:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Cooperativismo - Alternativa ou ilusão_ PPGSCA_U.pdf: 2417786 bytes, checksum: 9a158b25a7ae55a7cb4679002d056c04 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-06-19T13:49:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Cooperativismo - Alternativa ou ilusão_ PPGSCA_U.pdf: 2417786 bytes, checksum: 9a158b25a7ae55a7cb4679002d056c04 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2018-06-19T13:58:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Cooperativismo - Alternativa ou ilusão_ PPGSCA_U.pdf: 2417786 bytes, checksum: 9a158b25a7ae55a7cb4679002d056c04 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-19T13:58:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertação_Cooperativismo - Alternativa ou ilusão_ PPGSCA_U.pdf: 2417786 bytes, checksum: 9a158b25a7ae55a7cb4679002d056c04 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-11-28 / This research entitled Cooperativism - Alternative or Illusion? A Case Study of the Informal Workers in the Snacks Food Sector in the cities of Tabatinga and Benjamin Constant, Amazonas, is important to elucidate the discussion about informal work and the alternatives to organize the labor force in the bases of a solidarity economy, because, if on the one hand, the number of jobs has decreased, on the other hand, the unemployment rate has increased and, consequently, the labor force in the informal labor market. It shows a reflex of the unemployment scene where the workers moved by the need to ensure family support, many workers have entered the informal labor market as a way to promote employment and monthly income. In general terms, it was sought to know and understand the informal work performance of the snack food sector in the neighboring cities of Tabatinga and Benjamin Constant, as the contribution of cooperativism as an alternative to improve work. The specific purpose was: a) to identify the profile of informal workers and the economic activity of snack food industry; b) to describe the main difficulties that informal workers face in this sector; c) to discuss how the cooperativism may contribute to improve the informal workers condition in the snack food sector. The research was based on the dialectical method, and guided by a qualitative approach, using interviews and application forms with the informal snack workers from the cities of Tabatinga and Benjamin Constant. This research allowed to check that informal activity in the snack food sector is a reality and a part of the regional population daily life, the product sold is part of the consumer's eating habits, which has been seen as an opportunity for income generation for many local families. However, the workers involved in this activity face many problems regarding the limitation of the capital for the acquisition of inputs, lack of equipment and adequate place for production, inadequate infrastructure for commercialization and competitiveness since the concentration of snack sales is one of the main activities in the cities investigated. Considering the facts, is necessary to think about alternatives to improve the work and performance in this market. Therefore, this studies purpose was to propose some alternatives that, these kind of workers, can achieve recognition in their activity and, been covered by public policies that enable them to develop their business activities. / A presente pesquisa titulada “Cooperativismo - Alternativa ou Ilusão? Um Estudo de Caso com os trabalhadores informais inseridos no ramo alimentício de salgados nos Municípios de Tabatinga e Benjamin Constant, Amazonas”, é direcionada para elucidar uma discussão em torno do trabalho informal e as alternativas de organização da força de trabalho nas bases da economia solidária. Isso porque se por um lado, o número de postos de trabalho diminuiu, por outro lado, o índice de pessoas desempregadas aumentou e, consequentemente a expressão da massa trabalhista no mercado de trabalho informal. Reflexo do cenário de desemprego e movidos pela necessidade de garantir o sustento familiar muitos trabalhadores têm ingressado no mercado do trabalho informal como meio de promover ocupação e renda. Buscou-se em termos gerais conhecer e entender a atuação do trabalho informal no ramo alimentício de salgados nos municípios fronteiriços de Tabatinga e Benjamin Constant, assim como a possível contribuição do cooperativismo como alternativa de melhoria do trabalho. A imersão na temática, de forma específica, foi norteada para: a) Identificar o perfil dos trabalhadores informais e da atividade econômica do ramo alimentício de salgados; b) Descrever as principais dificuldades enfrentadas pelos trabalhadores informais inseridos no ramo alimentício de salgados; c) Discutir, em que medida, o cooperativismo poderá vir a contribuir para a melhoria do trabalho dos trabalhadores informais inseridos no ramo alimentício de salgados. A pesquisa foi direcionada nas bases do método dialético, norteada, principalmente, por uma abordagem qualitativa, fazendo uso de entrevistas e aplicação de formulários junto aos “salgadeiros” informais dos municípios de Tabatinga e Benjamin Constant. A pesquisa possibilitou verificar que a atividade informal no ramo alimentício de salgados é uma realidade e faz parte do cotidiano da população regional, o produto comercializado faz parte do hábito alimentar do consumidor, o que tem sido visto como oportunidade de geração de renda para muitas famílias locais. Todavia, os trabalhadores inseridos nesta atividade enfrentam muitos problemas quanto à limitação de capital para aquisição de insumos, falta de equipamentos e espaço adequado para produção, infraestrutura inadequada para comercialização e competitividade uma vez que a concentração de vendas de salgados é uma das principais atividades nos municípios pesquisados. Considerando os fatos é necessário pensar em alternativas de melhoria do trabalho e atuação no mercado destes trabalhadores. Assim, as propostas de saídas alternativas para que esses trabalhadores possam alcançar reconhecimento em sua atividade e, serem contemplados por políticas públicas que os habilitem a se desenvolverem em suas atividades de negócio, é o direcionamento que se pretendeu dar por meio deste estudo.

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This thesis presents a mainly empirical analysis of the phenomenon of recent immigration to the Athens conurbation and of the relationship of foreign workers to the Athenian lahour market. The research focuses on three of the main groups of foreign migrant workers from Third World and Eastern European countries: Albanians, Egyptians and Filipinos. After an analysis of the nature and characteristics of the Greek economy and labour market the research is built around three major topics: the differentiation of migrant groups within the context of Greek labour market segmentation; the relation between immigration and the informal, underground economy; and the impact of immigration on the spatial and social division of labour in Athens. Methodologically, the main effort of the study was a field survey of recent immigrants in Athens, undertaken over a period of seven months hetween August 1995 and February 1996. The first three chapters of the thesis contain the theoretical hackground to the empirical research. Chapter 4 contains a detailed presentation of methodological tools and approaches adopted during the field research in Athens. Chapter 5 presents the general background and profile data of 141 immigrants interviewed, including such variables as age, sex, time and means of arrival, education and training, reasons for migrating to Greece, family circumstances, remittance behaviour, and plans for the future. Chapter 6 is an extended discussion of the interactions between immigrants and the Athens labour market, based partly on a detailed analysis of the city's economy and social formation, and pattly on interview results. Chapter 7 looks more closely at the day-to-day lives of the immigrants in Athens, focusing in particular on their housing arrangements and their impact on the social geography of the city. Finally Chapter 8 concludes the thesis. It shows how the empirical findings to the different research questions are related to each other and how these findings are related to past and contemporary theories of migration. The strengths and weaknesses of the research are evaluated and suggestions for further research made.

This work explains the structure and function of the contemporary Iranian government by examining the government's formal political, religious and national security structures and the informal networks that empower and constrain the individuals who fill formal regime positions. The research argues that the Islamic Republic of Iran should be understood as a solar system in which the Supreme Leader resides at the center and oversees all other government bodies. These bodies have their own responsibilities and power, but ultimately answer to the Supreme Leader. The work outlines the current Iranian political landscape by examining the dominant ideological currents. It analyzes informal networks using the examples of three relevant actors: President Hassan Ruhani, Majles Speaker Ali Larijani and Supreme Leader Advisor Ali-Akbar Velayati. The paper concludes with predictions for evolutions in Iranian policy in the remainder of the first Ruhani Administration. / text

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M.Com. / The informal sector in Southern Africa has in recent years became a subject of interest, debate and focus to academics, policy makers and business people alike. This mainly stems from the sector's job creation potential, its use as a distribution channel for consumer goods and its role as a first step in the promotion of entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Informal enterprises however are faced with a number of constraints and problems. These include legal constraints, a lack of management skills, a limited access to raw materials and suppliers as well as marketing limitations. begun to Notwithstanding the increasing number of that have stated problems, there has been an development agencies and organizations provide loan finance to informal enterprises evaluate the in recent years. However, little has been done to effectiveness of such loan finance. The objective informal of this study is to ascertain the extent to which enterprises effectively use loan finance to increase earnings and returns to owners. The study looks into various approaches of defining the informal sector and focuses on the dualistic model, its characteristics and shortcomings. A definition of the informal sector is then formulated from various other definitions. The study also defines financial leverage and looks into the constraints of informal enterprises to employ financial leverage due to their limited access to formal institutional finance. Informal sources of funding such as "stokvels", burial societies, "mashonisas" etc. are also discussed.

Abstract All students are able to learn something about astronomy when they participate in a school visit to a site of informal learning such as a science centre. I examined how children from four schools experienced presentations and participated in activities about astronomy during a two to four hour visit to either the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory or the Johannesburg Planetarium in South Africa. The case study involved observing thirty-four 12- to 14-year-old students at the science centre and interviewing them about astronomy concepts including those based on personal meaning maps they drew prior to and after their visit. The data were analysed using a human constructivist framework to determine both what and how students learnt during their visit. Despite a lack of teacher involvement I show how students collectively and individually learnt about concepts in astronomy, which I categorised into a set of seven Big Ideas: gravity, stars and the Sun, size and scale, the Solar System, day and night, Moon phases and parabolic dishes. Collectively, there was an improvement in their knowledge of Big Ideas dealt with at the study sites, including gravity, stars, the Sun, size and scale, and parabolic dishes. The students showed little change in their knowledge of day and night or the phases of the Moon. Individually, all students learnt principally by incremental addition of knowledge, while some students also demonstrated greater knowledge restructuring. Students with the least prior knowledge added additional basic facts to their repertoire, while those with greater prior knowledge were able to reorganise their knowledge and achieve greater understanding. All students also showed that the affective domain (for example enjoyment and wonder) contributed to their learning by encouraging interest in astronomy. Some students demonstrated examples of conative learning in which their experiences prompted them to further action after their visit. While the visit changed the misconceptions of some students, it made little difference to others, and promoted misconceptions in a few. Methodological findings included the value of using personal meaning maps, the importance of using models during the interview process and observations of how students used language in their description of astronomical processes. The study suggests that students learn best from a range of activities clustered around a central theme, and that enjoyable activities appear to enhance learning. I recommend that the astronomy presented at the centres focus on a limited number of concepts in astronomy, and that presentations and activities be structured around those Big Ideas. Science centresshould provide teachers with guidelines for their visit. I also propose that activities aim to recall students’ prior knowledge and provide situational interest to encourage motivation in the topic of astronomy and the subject of science. Finally I suggest that science centres should combine cognitive learning with affective fun, as recommended by students participating in the study. Keywords Astronomy, Astronomy Education, Constructivism, Human Constructivism, Informal Learning, Museum, Planetarium, Science Centre.

In the last few decades, the workplace has been increasingly recognised as a legitimate environment for learning new skills and knowledge, which in turn enables workers to participate more effectively in ever-changing work environments. Within the workplace there is the potential for continuous learning to occur not only through formal learning initiatives that are associated with training, but also through informal learning opportunities that are embedded within everyday work activities. Somewhat surprisingly however, there have been relatively limited empirical investigations into the actual processes of informal learning in the workplace. This may in part be due to the particular methodological challenges of examining forms of learning that are not structured or organised but incidental to daily work activities. There remains, therefore, a clear need to better understand how learning occurs informally in the workplace, and most importantly, to gain insight into workers’ own accounts of informal learning experiences. This thesis addresses this issue by examining workers’ personal experiences of informal learning, and how these contributed to better participation in their regular workplace activities. Four bodies of literature were reviewed as directly relevant to this research, adult learning, organisational learning, informal learning, and a sociocultural perspective on learning. Together, they provide complementary perspectives on the development of learning in the workplace. A conceptual framework, grounded in the sociocultural perspective, was developed to address the issue of how informal learning leads to better participation in the workplace, and reciprocally, how better participation leads to continuous informal learning. Consistent with the sociocultural perspective, the workplace was conceptualised as a complex social system in which co-workers, who constitute that social system, are assumed to co-regulate each other’s learning opportunities. Social interactions, therefore, are considered as creating a context in which informal learning is afforded or constrained. Understanding what role workplace culture and socialisation play in affording or constraining informal learning opportunities is therefore crucial. This is because the relationships between co-workers is assumed to influence how both new and established co-workers participate in and experience the socialisation process and how they see their respective roles. The framework developed for the study generated two main research questions: How do co-workers learn informally in the workplace? and How does the workplace, as a social system, afford or constrain informal learning in the workplace? The methodology chosen for this empirical study was consistent with key concepts from the sociocultural perspective, namely that individuals and their social context must be studied concurrently as learning is assumed to be part of a social practice where activities are structured by social, cultural and situational factors. Accordingly, qualitative research methods were employed to gain knowledge and understanding of informal learning in the workplace from the perspective of co-workers. Co-worker’s reflections on their informal learning experiences and participation in the workplace are presented in narrative form and their accounts interpreted from the sociocultural theoretical perspective. The narrative format provides a useful way of presenting data in a way that immerses the reader in the phenomenon, with enough concrete details that the reader can identify with the subjective experiences of informal learning of each participant. The study highlighted how the nature of some relationships between new and established co-workers afforded opportunities for informal learning, while other relationships constrained such opportunities. These afforded or constrained opportunities were by nature spontaneous, planned, intentional or unintentional. The study also revealed that personal and organisational factors co-contributed to creating these social affordances or constraints. Common across groups was the importance given to the quality of relationships between co-workers. The way new and established co-workers participated and interacted in the workplace was found to represent important sociocultural processes that impacted on the effectiveness of informal learning. Overall, this study draws attention to the complexity of participation and interaction in the workplace. A major implication is that opportunities for informal learning are, potentially afforded or constrained by the social context. The study also highlighted conceptual and methodological issues in identifying and interpreting how co-workers learn informally in the workplace. Future research should establish how opportunities for effective informal learning might be fostered further through the design of more enabling workplace practices. The significance of perceived and expected roles between new and established co-workers also deserves further empirical attention, at the level of everyday informal practices but also at the level of organisational processes and structures that provide the broader context.

This thesis examines current Canadian social policies aimed at ameliorating the position of informal caregivers of terminally ill and elderly care recipients. Using an ethics of care theoretical approach, the thesis critically evaluates federal and provincial income tax regimes aimed at increasing the financial security of caregivers, and also looks at the shortcomings of the Compassionate Care Benefit offered through the federal Employment Insurance Act. The evaluation reveals that the benefit has a very low up-take compared with initial estimates, and offers some explanations for its low use. A review of the caregiver policies in three European countries provide additional background for the final chapter of the thesis, which offers concrete and incremental solutions to the problems with the current social policies in place. The aim of this thesis is not to suggest sweeping reforms, but to offer affordable, practical, and politically feasible solutions that can begin to make a difference in the lives of caregivers.

This thesis examines current Canadian social policies aimed at ameliorating the position of informal caregivers of terminally ill and elderly care recipients. Using an ethics of care theoretical approach, the thesis critically evaluates federal and provincial income tax regimes aimed at increasing the financial security of caregivers, and also looks at the shortcomings of the Compassionate Care Benefit offered through the federal Employment Insurance Act. The evaluation reveals that the benefit has a very low up-take compared with initial estimates, and offers some explanations for its low use. A review of the caregiver policies in three European countries provide additional background for the final chapter of the thesis, which offers concrete and incremental solutions to the problems with the current social policies in place. The aim of this thesis is not to suggest sweeping reforms, but to offer affordable, practical, and politically feasible solutions that can begin to make a difference in the lives of caregivers.