Playa och Prekaritet - En kvalitativ studie om europeiska callcenterarbetare i Barcelona

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is from a sociological perspective understand how it is to live in Barcelona while working in an international call centre as a young European citizen. What motivates these individuals to migrate to Barcelona? What is their perspective of work, social community and notion of belonging? These questions are later to be examined together with theories of migration, modernization and identity. Through qualitative, semi structured interviews, these questions were further analysed. The result of the study showed that a better lifestyle was one of the main reason for migrating, and the call centre job was a way to pay the bills for their adventures. The interview subjects expressed a concern for working conditions and salary in Barcelona, but they appreciated that it was easy to get a job in the first place. Although the decision to move could be spontaneous, their social network and free movement in the EU where amongst helpful factors. They also experienced that their situation before moving to Barcelona was in certain ways not ideal, with issues such as lack of full time occupation or boredom. Belonging and nationality were important for expressing identity, as well as full flexibility and freedom of moving from one place to another. Through the international environment at work they connected with people from all over the continent. These communities where described as diverse and inclusive. The main language was English, something that may have been an obstacle to learn Spanish. This was something they experienced as essential in order to better integrate in the Spanish and Catalan society.