Abstract
BackgroundMigrant workers have become a vital labor supply to China’s economy. Their migration process and work conditions may influence their health and work ability. The work ability of migrant workers in China and the influence of the migration process on work ability have not been explored extensively in previous studies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of migration characteristics and work-related factors with work ability among migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta.MethodsIn this cross-sectional survey, the study population consisted of 907 migrant workers from ten factories in the Pearl River Delta who were exposed to organic solvents during work. The primary dependent variable of the study was work ability, measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI). The independent variables were individual characteristics, migration characteristics, and work-related factors. Logistic regression models were used to determine the influence of different factors on work ability and three dimensions of WAI.ResultsThe result shows that among migration characteristics, social support was significantly associated with all three dimensions of the work ability index. Permanent migration intention and longer length of migration were negatively associated with the mental resource dimension of WAI. WAI was also influenced by individual and work-related factors.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest that expanding migrants’ social networks and social support systems in their work place or living community, (i.e. expanding the functions of labor unions) would be an effective way to improve migrant workers’ work ability. Improving of migrant workers’ physical and psychosocial related work environments would also increase their work ability.
Highlights
Migrant workers have become a vital labor supply to China’s economy
The results show that migration characteristics, especially social support are significantly associated with the work ability index of migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta
No other studies have analyzed the factors associated with the health status/mental resource dimensions of work ability, but substantial evidence has accumulated over the past few decades showing that social support is positively and causally related to mental health and physical health [21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28]
Summary
Migrant workers have become a vital labor supply to China’s economy Their migration process and work conditions may influence their health and work ability. In the process of migration, social support, level of acceptance in destination areas, length of detention, extent of isolation, family network, relationship with co-workers, interpersonal tensions and conflicts are the primary factors impacting migrants’ physical and mental health [8,9,10]. Any of these migration characteristics may damage the health of migrant workers—the main labor force of China’s manufacturing industry, and influence the work ability and productivity of migrant workers. In the context of China’s aging population, it is increasingly important to protect the work ability of migrant workers
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