Ways of work organization in Aymara communities in Bolivia

Abstract

This article explores the world of labor and its transformations in Aymara communities in the Bolivian Altiplano today. The idea is to explain the plurality of life strategies deployed by families to meet their everyday needs. In this sense, we discuss the strategy of “multi-activity” including reproductive work, self-employment, salaried employment and reciprocity work, among others. Furthermore, framing the community economy in the field of Social and Solidarity Economy, the relevance of the cooperative structure as a way of work organization in Andean communities is discussed.

Keywords: Andean communities, ways of working, reciprocity, multi-activity, cooperatives.