Male Migrant Workers Research Articles

Experiences of Male Indonesian Migrant Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Post-Pandemic Period in Taiwan: A Phenomenological Study.

The challenges faced by male migrant workers during the pandemic have not been fully understood. This study aimed to explore the experiences of male Indonesian migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan. This study used an interpretive phenomenological design. Twenty male Indonesian migrant workers in southern Taiwan were individually interviewed. Data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis. The migrant workers had conflicting emotions during the pandemic, faced challenges during self-quarantine, lived on board ships, and experienced restrictions on social and religious activities. The workers prioritized maintaining their health to ensure that they would not be easily infected while working. COVID-19 vaccines were made available to migrant workers in Taiwan. The workers had many hopes that they would achieve a better and more prosperous life by working in Taiwan than in their home country. Although the 3-year COVID-19 period was difficult for Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan, Taiwan's policies provided hope for them to endure the pandemic. The results have implications for Taiwan's health care system, labor development, and transcultural health care.

Accumulating delay: Filipino Time, COVID-19 and experiences of male returnees in Cebu

Unique to this paper is a gendered examination of return migration from the point of view of male return migrants. I analyze the perspectives of repatriated male migrant workers during their return migration in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a discussion of time as “accumulated delay,” I suggest that the (de)constructions of masculinity concerning overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) experiences of waiting and delay under repatriation and quarantine can be understood through the theoretical lens of immobility in migration research. I suggest that systemic delays in the circulation of global capital, necessitated by the global health pandemic, challenged migrant men’s cohesive narrative of migrant productivity.

Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on disability and vocational rehabilitation of injured male migrant workers in Singapore

PurposeThere are over 300,000 male migrant workers in Singapore. Around 600 major workplace injuries are reported in Singapore each year, mainly in the manufacturing and construction injuries. Migrant workers who are affected by workplace injuries often face many challenges, including not being able to work and thus may be repatriated to their home countries, which affects their financial status and that of their families, whom they support. This research aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore, towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.Design/methodology/approachFifteen male migrant workers, from Bangladesh, China and India, who had acquired disabling injuries in their workplaces in Singapore, were identified through purposive sampling. They were interviewed by a male interviewer, either in Mandarin Chinese or with the assistance of interpreters for Bengali-English and Tamil-English. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated to English, then analysed thematically.FindingsThe interviewees generally had a pessimistic outlook on their disability, which often impacted negatively on their self-worth and familial relationships. Many of them also had little knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and had not yet seriously considered future job prospects.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no similar studies exploring the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.

Food security among female migrant workers in Kerala returning from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

This paper seeks to enhance our comprehension of the interplay between COVID-19, international labour migration, and food security. The primary objective is to discern food security characteristics among female migrant workers (FMWs) returning to Kerala from Gulf countries, particularly under heightened social and economic uncertainties shared with male migrant workers (MMWs). This study conducted in the state of Kerala, India, examines the food security perceptions of Gulf migrants using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Samples of both returning FMWs and MMWs were identified through snowball sampling from the latest Kerala Migrant Survey (KMS) 2018 and Return migrant survey 2021. Oversampling was conducted for return FMWs, otherwise only constituting 20 per cent of the random sample. A total of 1154 samples were collected across all 14 districts in Kerala. The analysis indicates that food insecurity was not prevalent among the majority but was significant among a minority of surveyed migrant workers. The results also show that while FMWs experience food insecurity as a lack of access to food variety, MMWs experience food insecurity in the access to food varieties and the absolute quantity of food.

The Literary Image in Writings and Practical Well - Being in Reality: The Psychological Exploration of Female Migrant Workers in China

Background: the core of literary works is to reveal the epitomizing image in society so as to provoke the bottom of people’s heart. The image of female migrant workers is always touching the nerve of public since this vulnerable group keeps suffering from class, gender and so on. In 2022, the number of rural migrant workers in China had surged to 295.62 million, 36.6 percent were female which rose by 0.7% from the previous year. The psychological health of this huge group still lagged behind though the living condition and other welfare are improve compared with that in the past. The solution remain unanswered and the landscape of their psychological health needs further delve into. Method: the study explores the psychological dynamics from three different angles such as mental emancipation, consumer behavior and “technology transformation” enlightened by epitomizing image of female migrant workers in literary writings. There are 1574 female migrant workers, who have been divided in three groups depends on their age (660 - group 1; 584 - group 2; 330 - group 3), have participated in the questionnaire and the data has been analyzed by SPSS so as to further study the connotation and enlighten us to figure out strategies to better help their psychological health with different age groups. Results and Conclusion: The findings highlighted the different psychological problems and features in different age groups, the younger generation (< 30) is living more freely and does not take “traditional burden” as the imperatives; however, they still find themselves stuck in class transition. To middle age group (30-45) and senior age group (> 45), data indicates their heavy burden and suffer from the technology advancement etc. Unlike male migrant workers, the female group is more vulnerable due to several unique factors such as low social status which renders us to find better solution to help via the clear unique features as the study unearthed.

A Study on Work-Related Factors and Safety Concerns Among Indian Migrant Workers in Islamic Gulf Countries

This current study aims to identify the work-related factors that impact both their work and health outcomes. The cross-sectional study conducted from June to October 2023 in Warangal, Telangana, focused on Indian male migrants, especially those working in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The survey included 350 male migrant workers aged 20 and above, excluding females due to industry-specific regulations. The carefully crafted questionnaire covered physical strain, workplace factors, and safety. Data analysis, conducted in MS Excel, employed statistical measures and tests such as the Chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. In this study, a survey encompassed 350 male migrant workers (204 from Saudi Arabia, 146 from the UAE). Notably, 36.37% were above 41 years old, 50.86% were married, and nearly half had a secondary education, with the UAE showing the highest percentage (69.86%). A significant majority had over 6 years of experience, and a predominant portion worked in construction (35.71%), industry (22.57%), and cleaning (14.29%). Physical strain elements were prevalent, with 63.43% experiencing prolonged sitting and 82.57% facing lengthy standing. Workplace factors included exposure to noise (85.72%), varying temperature conditions, and encounters with dust, smoke, and gas. Concerns were raised about safety at the workplace, with almost 28.57% lacking appropriate personal protective equipment, and 29.14% reporting a lack of emergency response planning. Despite these issues, 72% adhered to safe practices, while 38.86% reported insufficient training. The study underscores the multifaceted challenges faced by migrant workers, necessitating targeted interventions to enhance their working conditions and safety.

Building a healthy migrant workforce in Singapore – A cross-sectional study to understand health-seeking behaviours of male migrant workers

BackgroundThe healthcare policies for migrant workers in Singapore had a traditional focus on improving occupational health and preventing workplace injuries. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid paradigm shift in the provision of healthcare for migrant workers, with an urgent focus on improving the accessibility and affordability of primary and preventive health services and strengthening public health surveillance. The purpose of this study is to identify areas for improvement, so that policy makers can improve the implementation effectiveness of healthcare policies for migrant workers. This is achieved by establishing a baseline understanding of (a) the health-seeking behaviours of migrant workers in Singapore, (b) how they consume primary and preventive health services, and (c) systemic gaps in the delivery of services. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at five migrant worker dormitories and two community spaces in Singapore, between August and November 2022. 1101 male migrant workers participated in a survey and 1089 valid responses were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with health service utilisation and awareness of the new healthcare financing plan introduced for migrant workers, called the Primary Care Plan (PCP). ResultsThe mean age of participants was 34 years. Most of them were of Indian or Bangladeshi nationality. At least 82 % of participants reported that they could access varying health services in Singapore and 73 % were satisfied with the costs of healthcare. However, a lower percentage of the participants (54 %) had seen a doctor, mostly for respiratory, fever or musculoskeletal conditions, and only 7 % saw a dentist at least once in a year. This was attributable to their low perceived need to see a doctor (91 %) or dentist (71 %). While the prevalence of chronic diseases (4 %) was low among the participants, about one-third of participants smoked (26 %), consumed alcohol (32 %), or resorted to self-treatment or medication (39 %). ConclusionThis study corroborated with previous observational studies where migrant workers in Singapore only sought care during an acute episode of illness. While participants perceived healthcare in Singapore to be accessible and affordable, there was limited evidence to suggest that preventive health care was prioritised. This indicates possible gaps in current outreach programmes and further development of new targeted programmes to increase the health literacy and awareness of primary and preventive health services among migrant workers in Singapore.

On self-reliant masculinities and rural returnees in ethnic China

Abstract The shift in China's national economy from industrial manufacturing to technology and IT has placed constraints on the lives of rural-to-urban male migrant workers from the lower social strata. As the pace of out-migration in China slows, male rural returnees are harnessing self-reliant masculinities to reclaim status and heighten a sense of collective pride in and affiliation with their natal village. Centering on two ethnographic case studies of Dong ethnic minority male rural returnees in the autonomous district of Guizhou Province, the analysis in this article contributes to critique on the recent unfolding of the state-led “crisis of masculinity” to highlight the wider socioeconomic conditions that continue to deepen the inequalities and felt anxieties of male rural returnees.

Co-producing a culturally sensitive storytelling intervention with Nepalese migrant workers

Abstract Background Labour migration is an increasingly important contributing factor to Nepal's economy; remittance from migrants abroad contribute to quarter of Nepal's gross domestic product. However, this income comes at a great cost; nearly 1,000 Nepalese migrant workers (NMWs) die every year in Gulf States and Malaysia. This interdisciplinary study informs the co-production of a culturally adaptive storytelling intervention to support the mental health and wellbeing of NMWs. Methods We focused on outgoing and returnee adult NMWs in the GCC countries. The study was conducted in Dhading district, Nepal and involved three different but interconnected phases; 1. a systematic review and a mixed methods study exploring health and wellbeing issues of NMWs (both studies already published, available online); 2. exploration, and analysis of Nepalese literature relevant to contemporary migration (n = 49); and 3. co-development of storytelling intervention working together with a co-production group (n = 12). Results Findings from phase one and two showed that NMWs suffer from various health and wellbeing issues (mental health, physical health including workplace hazard, abuse, and exploitation). Themes identified from the Nepalese literature centred around hopelessness, helplessness, and separation. Based on these findings, a culturally sensitive storytelling intervention was co-produced to support the mental health and wellbeing of NMWs in GCC countries. The intervention video includes an animated story centred around the struggles of an archetypal male migrant worker and their use of coping strategies for dealing with adversities. Conclusions Our study suggests that co-production of storytelling intervention provides shared spaces for migrant workers to engage, imagine and participate as communities. The process also helps to redistribute power and redress top-down modes of working that may undermine and devalue the stories of marginalised groups. Key messages • Co-production of storytelling intervention provides shared spaces to engage, imagine and participate as communities. • Co-production helps to redistribute power and redress top-down modes of working that may undermine and devalue the stories of marginalised groups.

Cigarette smoking as a risk factor for ischaemic stroke in young South Asian male migrants to Qatar: The BRAINS study

Background: The incidence of stroke in the Middle East is high, given its relatively young population. Smoking is a well-recognized risk factor for ischaemic stroke, and its high regional prevalence may partly account for this increased stroke risk. This research aims to determine whether young male South Asian migrants in Qatar were adversely affected by stroke depending on their smoking status. Methods: Data from the ongoing international prospective BRAINS study was analysed. Male South Asian migrants to Qatar with a history of ischaemic stroke were recruited. Multivariate regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of comorbidities, such as BMI, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, alcohol consumption, and ischemic heart disease, on the association of age of stroke onset and smoking status. Results: We identified 778 (mean age 49.5±10.2) migrant male workers of South Asian descent with ischaemic stroke in Qatar, of which 41.3% of the sample were current smokers. Compared to non-smokers, current smokers suffered a stroke 2.03 years earlier (95%CI: 0.60–3.46, P=0.005). Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that only current smoking status was associated with an earlier age of stroke onset (β=2.03, SE=0.74, P=0.006). Conclusion: Smoking is associated with at least a two-year earlier onset of ischaemic stroke in male South Asian migrants to the Middle East. Our study has important implications for the public health management of migrants in host countries.

Exploring the power of networks and knowledge: how social capital and education drive the success of Chinese migrant workers in the labor market

ABSTRACT This study explores the relationships between social capital, education, income, and job stability in Chinese migrant workers, an under-researched area. Our findings reveal strong positive links between social capital, formal education duration, income, and job stability for migrant workers. Importantly, we distinguish between male and female migrants, unveiling gender-specific differences in the impact of social capital and education on income and job stability. Male migrant workers benefit from both social capital and formal education, while female migrant workers primarily gain from formal education. Regarding job stability, only the formal education duration of female migrant workers demonstrates a noteworthy correlation. Additionally, our analysis examines generational disparities, showing that formal education positively affects all migrant workers, with more pronounced advantages among younger individuals. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the role of social capital in increasing income for migrant workers in the manufacturing and construction sectors, while also enhancing job stability among those in the construction and service sectors. Formal education emerges as a positive factor for both income and job stability across manufacturing, construction, and service domains among migrant workers.

Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea

BackgroundThe objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. MethodsWe conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. ResultsVietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07–20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07–20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50–10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51–3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44–3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24–2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46–2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26–4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74–10.32). ConclusionOur findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

‘Like every other day’: Writing temporalities of banal exploitation among precarious migrant workers

AbstractThe violence of precarious labour migration is often represented in popular and policy accounts through episodic frames that emphasise particular—often sensationalised and extreme—aspects and moments of more complex and mundane experiences. These depictions commonly appear under the labels of ‘modern‐day slavery’ and ‘labour trafficking’. This paper advances a participatory methodology aimed at elucidating more complex temporalities experienced by precarious migrant labourers, drawing on a project with male migrant workers in Singapore. The methodology developed for this project centres on written diaries/narratives authored by the participants over periods ranging from one to three months. These detailed narratives document struggles—physically, relationally, financially and emotionally—in the context of post‐labour destitution. These struggles appear as both ‘everyday’ difficulties and longer‐term problems, with both temporalities rendered visible as a form of slow violence. This methodology fuses key principles of qualitative longitudinal research (QLR) methods with participatory action research (PAR) to develop a methodological orientation to temporally extenuative experiences of violence that are visible through processes that draw on participants as key producers of knowledge and advocates for change. As a way of engaging migrants' mundane post‐labour struggles, this methodology allows for tracing of the longer‐term and cumulative impacts of precarious migrant labour through participants' own frames of reference.

Gender Differences in Migrant Workers’ Wages and Their Influencing Factors in the Central Hilly Regions of China

Since the reform and opening up, the socioeconomic status of women in rural China has risen rapidly. However, unlike men, women have not been able to earn higher wages by “working in all directions”. Based on the interview data of 2064 migrant workers, this paper explores the nonlinear interaction of individual characteristics and urban geographic factors with gender differences in migrant workers’ wages with the help of random forest regression models. The results show the following: (1) migrant workers’ wages show obvious gender differences in different dimensions, but in general, men’s wages are higher than women’s wages; (2) there are also gender differences in the influencing factors of migrant workers’ wages. Work experience is more important for male migrant workers’ wages, age is more important for female migrant workers’ wages, and there is a variable effect of each factor on migrant workers’ wages. This paper is of great help in understanding the travel trajectories of migrant workers and gender differences in wages and holds reference value for guiding migrant workers in choosing jobs and places and increasing their income.

“My young life, finished already?”: a qualitative study of embedded social stressors and their effects on mental health of low-wage male migrant workers in Singapore

BackgroundIncreasing evidence shows low-wage migrant workers experience a high prevalence of mental health disorders and adverse health outcomes. Significant disparities in health services usage among migrant workers create added vulnerability to health complications. However, much remains unclear about how vulnerabilities are constructed in migrant worker populations. Additionally, no studies in Singapore have attempted to critically examine the degree to which social environment and structures affect the health and wellbeing of migrant workers. Therefore, this study aimed to critically situate the socio-structural factors creating conditions of vulnerability among migrant workers using a social stress perspective.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured individual and group interviews with migrant workers focused on individual life experiences, community experiences (individual and collective social capital), health (mental and physical health concerns) and stress response behaviours. We used a grounded theory approach to identify sources of stress and stress responses and uncover pathways to social vulnerabilities.ResultsFindings from 21 individual and 2 group interviews revealed that migrant workers were embedded in a cycle of chronic stress driven by structural factors that were mutually reinforced by stressors arising from their social environment. Socio-structural stressors enacted as poor living, working and social conditions resulted in their negative quality-of-life appraisal. Stressors arising from being “foreign” resulted in anticipated stigma, concealment, and healthcare avoidance. These factors synergistically created a persistent mental health burden for migrant workers.ConclusionsFindings highlight the need to address the mental health burden placed on migrant workers and create avenues for migrant workers to seek psychosocial support to manage their stressors.

Prevalence and prediction of occupational morbidities among male migrant workers in textile industries in Surat, India: a cross-sectional study

Background: In the textile industry, male migrant workers from other Indian states predominate. Workers are more vulnerable to occupational hazards due to poor working conditions, such as long hours and workplace annoyances. These include noise, high temperatures, humidity, chemical fumes, and cotton or synthetic dust, which harm their health. This study investigated the morbidity patterns of textile migrant workers in Surat. Methods: From April to November 2017, cross-sectional research was conducted in three blocks, utilizing multistage stratified cluster sampling to survey 348 TMWs. A pre-tested and pre-designed structured questionnaire was developed to collect data on three types of textile units: yarn, weaving, and processing. A bivariate and binary logistic regression examined the relationship between the self-reported prevalence of occupational morbidities (outcome variables) and occupation-related factors (predictor variables). Results: Occupational morbidities affect 95% of workers. Self-reported morbidities include musculoskeletal morbidities (72.7%), respiratory morbidities (21.9%), ophthalmic morbidities (27.6%), skin morbidities (23.9%), and ENT problems (18.4%). Those working in weaving manufacturing units are 10% more likely to have ocular disorders (P<0.05). Those who engage in printing and dyeing processing units have a 27% higher chance of developing respiratory morbidities (P<0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of occupational morbidity is significantly higher among textile workers. The hazardous risk factors responsible for these morbidities can be mitigated by improving working conditions and implementing suitable protective measures for textile workers. Intervention initiatives are required to address textile workers’ health concerns.

Optimizing health and nutrition status of migrant construction workers consuming multiple micronutrient fortified rice in Singapore.

A well-nourished workforce is instrumental in eradicating hunger, alleviating poverty, and spurring economic growth. A fifth of the total workforce in high-income countries are migrant workers. Despite the accessibility of nutritious foods in high-income countries, migrant workers often rely on nutrient-poor diets largely consisting of empty calories, which in turn leads to vitamin and mineral deficiency, also called hidden hunger, and resultant productivity loss. Here, we study the magnitude of hidden hunger in male migrant construction workers in Singapore and investigate the impact of consuming fortified rice for 6 consecutive months on the nutrition and health status of these workers. 140 male migrant workers aged 20-51 years of either Bangladeshi or Indian ethnicity from a single dormitory in Singapore volunteered to participate in the study. In total, 133 blood samples were taken at the start of the study and were used to assess vitamin B12, hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, and zinc levels; a sub-sample underwent for homocysteine testing. Anthropometric measurements and vital signs, such as blood pressure, were recorded before and after the intervention. The results show that vitamin and mineral deficiency was present, especially folate (59% of workers deficient) and vitamin B12 (7% deficient, 31% marginally deficient). The consumption of fortified rice significantly improved the vitamin, iron and zinc level in the workers and significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure amongst the Bangladeshi migrant workers, specifically. Our study demonstrates that fortified rice may have a positive impact on male migrant construction worker health and nutrition status at the workplace.

HIV and Hepatitis C Risk among Tajik Migrant Workers Who Inject Drugs in Moscow.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia continues to grow with most infections occurring in high-risk groups including people who inject drugs and their sexual partners. Labor migrants from this region who inject drugs while in Russia are at especially high HIV risk. Male Tajik migrant workers who inject drugs in Moscow (N = 420) were interviewed prior to a randomized trial of the Migrants' Approached Self-Learning Intervention in HIV/AIDS (MASLIHAT) peer-education HIV-prevention intervention. Participants were interviewed about their sex and drug use behavior and tested for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) prior to the intervention. Only 17% had ever been tested for HIV. Over half of the men reported injecting with a previously used syringe in the past month, and substantial proportions reported risky sexual behavior. Prevalence rates of HIV (6.8%) and HCV (2.9%) were elevated, although lower than expected when compared to estimates of prevalence among people who inject drugs at the national level in Tajikistan. Risk behavior in diaspora varied across the men's regional area of origin in Tajikistan and occupation in Moscow, with HIV prevalence rates highest among those working at the bazaars. Evidence-based prevention approaches and messaging that specifically address the drug- and sex-related risk behavior of migrants with varying backgrounds are needed.

The beauty premium in urbanization: do more beautiful people have a higher sense of fairness?

ABSTRACT Using data from China Labour-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), we analyse the effects of beauty on migrant workers’ sense of fairness. We find that beauty can significantly increase the sense of fairness for both male and female migrant workers. In addition, we propose three potential mechanisms for this beauty premium: employment quality, social interactions, and personality characteristics. Our results show gender differences in the mechanisms, which may be related to social preferences and family division of labour in traditional Chinese society.

The Contribution of Work Experience on Earnings Inequality of Migrant Workers: Decompositions Based on the Quantile Regression Equation

This paper aims at excavating the influence factors of the earning inequality, due to the increasing contribution of earing inequality to income inequality in rural region. The authors examine the contribution of work experience on the earning inequality using a survey data. Employed the quantile regression, they estimate the Mincer equation of migrant workers' earnings, and decompose earning inequality by the regression-based decomposition. It has been found that the effects of work experience had been one of most important contributors to earnings inequality, and its contribution is close to 20%. Furthermore, the authors use the same method to examine the effects for male migrant workers, the results show that work experience had a steady contribution to earing inequality.