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WORK, HEALTH, AND POLITICAL TRAINING IN MARX'S WORKER'S INQUIRY

Abstract

In 1880, Marx wrote and published A Worker's Inquiry to investigate the living and health conditions of the French working class. In addition to the research itself, it had to do with politicizing and strengthening the French workers‘ struggle organizations. A Worker's Inquiry is, therefore, an investigation and politicization mechanism of the working class. The purpose of this assay was to analyze how current the 1880 A Worker's Inquiry is today. Four aspects of it were discussed: Development and use, labor accidents, working hours and intensity of the work, wages, and living conditions. The consistency of A Worker's is due to the Marxist theory that supports it. This essay states that Marx’ questionnaire and the form of “worker's inquiry” – understood as a mechanism for research and politicization – remain valid.

Keywords
marxism; worker's inquiry; work conditions; production process; worker's health

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