Tagesarbeitern

In German-speaking contexts, Tagesarbeitern is the dative plural form of Tagesarbeiter and is used in discussions of day laborers—workers employed on a daily basis for short-term tasks rather than as permanent staff. The term covers people who may be paid per day or per job and who often have limited access to long-term contracts, benefits, or social protections.

Day laborers work across sectors such as agriculture, construction, logistics, hospitality, and street vending, and the group can include seasonal workers and migrants who move between jobs to meet demand. Their employment is typically marked by irregular hours, limited predictability, and variable income, with work arrangements that are more casual than formal.

Historically, day labor markets emerged with urbanization, agricultural cycles, and the growth of casual labor in factories, mines, and construction sites. They provided flexible labor supply for employers while creating precarious employment for workers. Social and political movements in various countries campaigned for higher wages, better working conditions, and protections for casual laborers.

Legal and economic aspects vary by jurisdiction. In many places, day workers such as Tagesarbeitern and similar workers are governed by general labor law and social insurance rules, while other regimes offer specific provisions for temporary or casual work. The rise of temporary staffing agencies and project-based work has also reshaped day labor in some sectors.

Today, day labor remains prominent in certain sectors, though formalization and protections have increased in many regions. The term is often used in historical analysis of labor markets as well as in contemporary discussions of precarious work. See also: Leiharbeit, Zeitarbeit, Minijob, Arbeitsrecht, Prekäre Arbeit.