Migrant Workers and Their Occupational Health and Safety

TLDR

Transnational migrant workers—about half of 244 million global migrants—frequently work in hazardous, low‑pay, long‑hour jobs with poorer conditions than non‑migrants, resulting in higher occupational exposures, injuries, fatalities, and health disparities driven by language, access, and political factors. The study proposes global and local recommendations to improve immigrant workers’ health.

Abstract

In 2015, approximately 244 million people were transnational migrants, approximately half of whom were workers, often engaged in jobs that are hazardous to their health. They work for less pay, for longer hours, and in worse conditions than do nonmigrants and are often subject to human rights violations, abuse, human trafficking, and violence. Worldwide, immigrant workers have higher rates of adverse occupational exposures and working conditions, which lead to poor health outcomes, workplace injuries, and occupational fatalities. Health disparities of immigrant workers are related to environmental and occupational exposures and are a result of language/cultural barriers, access to health care, documentation status, and the political climate of the host country. Recommendations on global and local scales are offered as potential solutions to improving the health of immigrant workers.