Epidemiology of migrant workers’ occupational health: a perspective from three regions

Abstract

Purpose of review There are approximately 169 million migrant workers at considerable risk of work-related disease and injury. However, studies remain somewhat limited and are critically overlooked in research and policy. The pandemic added another layer of complexity and vulnerability to the working conditions of migrant workers. We attempted to summarize the limited number of studies published during the pandemic, and at the same time, provide a critical review from three regions and make research, policy and practice recommendations to improve the occupational health of migrant workers. Recent findings The findings in this review are consistent with the limited number of studies published on the topic of occupational health and migrant workers before the pandemic. Studies conducted during the pandemic suggest that migrant workers continue to sustain higher occupational safety and health risks compared with native workers across Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Likely the pandemic has exacerbated the nature of precariousness in working conditions of migrant workers given the cumulative impact of quarantine regulations, travel restrictions and willingness to work in ‘4-D jobs’ (dirty, dangerous, and difficult and discriminatory) given the lack of work in certain sectors. Summary The findings of this review call for international agencies and policy makers to commit resources and build partnerships for an inclusive and human-centered approaches for the better protection of migrant workers globally.