Research Ninke Mussche

Abstract

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Mussche Ninke
• Co-promoter: Corluy Vincent
• Co-promoter: De Maesschalck Veerle
• Co-promoter: Marx Ive

Research team(s)

• Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

This research project concerns the issue of the borders of national welfare states in the light of immigration, and more specifically female immigration. The legal issue pertains to the way the welfare state limits of guarantees the attribution of social rights to different types of non-EU immigrants. The question refers to the challenge that international migration poses to the organization as well as the conceptual borders of national welfare states. More specifically I aim to examine how the factual situation of female immigrants is determined by gender-neutral immigration legislation and social legislation, and to what degree law creates or exacerbates dependency and poverty.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Steenberge Josse
• Co-promoter: Cantillon Bea
• Fellow: Mussche Ninke

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The Belgian social security system covers care labour in and outside the family only indirectly and in a limited way. Outside of the family sphere these care functions can be qualified as `grey market' positions, as they are usually not paid or only in a limited way and offer no or only limited entitlements to the social security system. Social security provides protection for care labour inside and outside the family via the system of `derived rights'. Derived rights guarantee social protection for persons who do not have proper social security rights on the basis of paid labour, and originate from kinship with a person who does paid labour. These derived rights undoubtedly contributed to the adequacy of the social security system, however the system is under pressure for several reasons. It is deemed insufficient, discriminatory and anti-emancipatory. Also, the derived rights are criticised for their only indirect coverage of unpaid or slightly paid care labour. The project wants to research how and to what degree social security can recognise a larger notion of `labour', by directly compensating care labour and by individualising the derived rights. The `grey market' positions deserve special attention, as they already express a re-construction of care labour outside the family, however without adequate protection within the social security system. Next to the Belgian social security system, research will be undertaken regarding social security in the Netherlands, France, Sweden and the United States.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Steenberge Josse
• Fellow: Mussche Ninke

Research team(s)

Project type(s)

• Research Project