Seasonal Migrant Workers Research Articles

Occupational health and safety characteristics of agricultural workers in Adana, Turkey: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundAmong agricultural workers, especially in the seasonal migratory ones, housing and hygiene related issues, occupational accidents, low levels of education, poverty and absence of social security problems emerge as significant public health problems. This study aims to compare migrant-seasonal workers (MSWs) and resident agricultural workers (RAWs) in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and occupational health and safety in Adana, one of Turkey’s most important agricultural cities.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on RAWs and MSWs, aged 15–65, operating in the province of Adana. The calculated sample sizes for both MSWs and RAWs were distributed using stratified simple random sampling to five districts of Adana.ResultsThe mean age of the 798 participating agricultural workers was 34.6 ± 14.2. Of the RAWs, 78.8% and of the MSWs 57.0% were male; 5.8% of RAWs and 32.8% of MSWs were illiterate. The mean number of people in the households of the participating workers was 5.1 for RAWs and 6.6 for MSWs. Of the RAWs, 20.5% were not covered by any social security scheme while this percentage was 35.1% in MSWs. RAWs worked 9.9 h a day while MSWs worked 10.9 h a day. Of the agricultural workers, 12.9% had injuries caused by occupational accidents.DiscussionAgricultural workers, who are a large part of Turkey’s economically active population, do not have healthy and safe working conditions. New regulations in the fields of social security, record keeping, monitoring, supervision, education and occupational health have been implemented recently to solve these problems. Despite the recent improvements there are still some problematic issues in the auditing of the necessary practices.

The effects of climate change on the geography and timing of human mobility

Human mobility over different distances and time scales has long been associated with environmental change, and the idea of climate change is now affecting movement in new ways. In this paper, we discuss three cases from the South Pacific to explain the ways anticipated climate futures are changing mobility in the present. First, we examine village relocation in response to coastal erosion and inundation in Fiji, drawing on our study of the unfolding experience of Narikoso village in Kadavu Province. In contrast to this spatially constrained process of permanent relocation, we examine the spatially extended yet temporally constrained seasonal migrant worker programme that aims to support economic development in the Pacific Islands by providing temporary work visas in Australia and New Zealand. Finally, we examine the likely effects of proposed open labour markets as a means to promote climate change adaptation, through a study of the analogous example of Niuean migration to New Zealand which has resulted in both permanent migration and a slow circulation of people between both countries. Across these examples, we highlight emerging and potentially constructive ways in which climate change is altering the spatio-temporal patterns and rhythms of mobility.

6.10-P1Distress or resilience? Examining socio-spatial relations impacting the wellbeing and emotional health of seasonal agricultural migrant workers in rural Canada

6.10-P1Distress or resilience? Examining socio-spatial relations impacting the wellbeing and emotional health of seasonal agricultural migrant workers in rural Canada

Introduction of a Nationwide Minimum Wage: Challenges to Agribusinesses in Germany

The introduction of a minimum wage in Germany on January 1, 2015 raised concerns among employers and employees’ representatives alike. The former expecting increasing labor costs and declining international competiveness, the latter fearing the loss of jobs. This paper explores the effects of the minimum wage on seasonal work in agribusiness from two different perspectives, employers and industry experts on one hand and seasonal workers on the other. Based on indepth interviews, qualitative content analysis is applied to analyze the experiences in the first year of the minimum wage. The analysis looks at employers’ and experts’ assessment of the effects of the minimum wage and the motivations of seasonal migrant workers for seeking work in Germany. Results show that the increase in hourly wages was a concern for employers and experts, but costs of related documentation requirements and stepped up enforcement of the working hours’ legislation were bigger concerns. Migrant workers interviewed confirmed that the main reason for seeking seasonal employment in Germany was the much higher wage level compared to their home country. For them, the sum of wages earned throughout the season was most relevant, which may also be hampered by enforcement of the working hours’ legislation.

Interstate Migrant Workmen in the State of Odisha: Issues, Challenges and Action Plans

In the light of ongoing structural changes in India and consequently changing contours of the rural economy, the nature and pattern of migration has been changing over time. More than 30 million people in India are seasonal migrant workers. Odisha's share is 2.5 million and considered a key state in supply of migrant workers. Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 was promulgated for the purpose of regulation of the service condition of the migrant workers, but in status today, it is an ineffective piece of legislation. In today's scenario, there is an urgent need to revisit the debate on legislation for the welfare of migrant workers. It is a small effort to deliberate and advocate on the issue of migration, its impact, development, policy framework and search for alternatives. Thus, this paper focuses on some key issues related to migrant labour in India especially in Odisha state. It also highlights government initiatives and action plans to meet the challenges relating to migrant workers.

Study on Understanding, Awareness and Perceived Behavior of HIV/AIDS among Returnee Seasonal Migrant Workers from India to Far Western Region of Nepal

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is an emerging challenge to public health, social development and modern human civilization. Thousands of Nepalese people are migrating to India and other countries every year in order to seek employment. Migrants are often a medically underserved population and are getting more exposed to unsafe sexual activities, increasing their risk for HIV/AIDS. Awareness is a powerful weapon to combat such problems like HIV/AIDS. Hence this study was conducted to explore the understanding, awareness and perceived behavior of migrant workers on HIV/AIDS.Methodology: This Population based cross-sectional study was carried out in the border area of Far- Western region of Nepal. Altogether 372 returnee migrants who were selected randomly were interviewed after obtaining their written consent. Aggregation of correct knowledge on HIV/AIDS was considered as good understanding, positive perception as good perceived behavior and good understanding with positive perceived behavior as good awareness. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 applying appropriate statistics. Criterion for statistical significance was set at test value P < 0.05.Results: Total, 372 male migrant workers (mean age ± SD: 29.6 ± 1.9 years; range: 18-47 years) participated in the study. Majority (29.84%) were 28-32 years. Half (50.81%) were from primary and informal educational background and 74.20 percent were Hindus. About 41.94 percent of the participants’ earning was < 3000 NRs. /month and 53.22 percent were scheduled caste. About 46.77 percent were porters followed by 29.84 percent who work as construction workers. Almost 81percent had heard about the HIV/AIDS with 45.9 percent reporting virus as an etiology. Similarly 65 percent reported that unsafe sexual contact is the major mode of HIV transmission and one–quarter had the idea that HIV cannot be transmitted through hugging/kissing or shaking hands. Almost 80.0% reported that condom use is the most important preventive measure. Nearly half (49.20%) were found to be aware of HIV/AIDS. Age of participants (χ2= 13.09, p <0.001), educational background (χ2=10.65, p <0.001), religion (χ2= 8.03, p <0.02), monthly income (χ2= 12.38, p <0.001) and nature of job/work performed (χ2 = 7, p<0.02) during staying in India were found to be significant factors affecting the level of awareness.Conclusion: Nearly half of the participants were found to be aware on HIV/AIDS. The level of awareness was significantly affected by the age of participants, educational background, religion, monthly income and nature of job/work performed during staying in India. Awareness creating package programs like behavior change communication (BCC) on HIV/AIDS are supportive to decrease the vulnerability of HIV/ AIDS among migrant workers.SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2015; 12(1), page: 31-38

Adoption of labor-enhancing technologies by specialty crop producers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold, first: to define the profile of adopters of labor-enhancing technologies (e.g. platforms) identifying factors – such as operations size, mix of fruits grown, apple operation location, principal operators socio-demographics – and second: to estimate the efficiency threshold for platform adoption during apple harvesting to be financially feasible considering future increases in farm labor wages. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted a mixed-mode survey in January-February 2010. Data were analyzed using a bivariate probit model, considering that the decision to adopt platforms was related with the orchard planting system. The authors conducted simulation scenarios to estimate the efficiencies – harvest – platforms must achieve in order to be economically feasible. Findings – In total, 11 percent of the 316 apple operations covered by the survey used platforms. Orchard operations most likely to invest in planar structures are relatively large, produce high-value varieties, use organic systems, and have relatively young and educated operators. Similarly, operations producing high-value fruit such as “Honeycrisp” and controlled or patented varieties and relatively large operations are more likely to invest in platforms. The results of the comparison of the cost of harvesting apples using platforms vs ladders under several production assumptions indicate that platforms must increase labor productivity by at least 13 percent in order to be adopted by the industry. Research limitations/implications – This study caveat is the lack of inclusion of production and marketing uncertainties in the estimation of future apple harvest costs. Further research to deeper analyze these issues is needed. Practical implications – The authors present information on the profile of mechanization adopters, so extension educators and engineers could concentrate efforts on them to increase adoption levels. In addition the authors provide a threshold of efficiencies for harvest platforms associated with cost savings compared to manual harvest. Social implications – Enabling the adoption of mechanization technologies by specialty crop industries would decrease the dependence on labor, decreasing labor uncertainties and facilitating the production of high quality produce to satisfy the needs of consumers. Second, it will end an era of importing poverty, given that the specialty crop industry has long benefited from seasonal migrant workers. It will improve rural American communities to shorten pools of farm workers, giving them access to permanent jobs with higher salaries. Originality/value – The contribution of this study is to improve understanding of the degree of mechanization, financial feasibility of current existing technologies, and barriers to greater mechanization by the Washington apple industry. Given the similar labor challenges faced, in general, by the US specialty crop agriculture, results could be applicable to the entire industry.

Development of the Seasonal Migrant Agricultural Worker Stress Scale in Sanliurfa, Southeast Turkey

ABSTRACTStress is one of the main causes of health problems, especially mental disorders. These health problems cause a significant amount of ability loss and increase cost. It is estimated that by 2020, mental disorders will constitute 15% of the total disease burden, and depression will rank second only after ischemic heart disease. Environmental experiences are paramount in increasing the liability of mental disorders in those who constantly face sustained high levels of stress. The objective of this study was to develop a stress scale for seasonal migrant agricultural workers aged 18 years and older. The sample consisted of 270 randomly selected seasonal migrant agricultural workers. The average age of the participants was 33.1 ± 14, and 50.7% were male. The Cronbach alpha coefficient and test-retest methods were used for reliability analyses. Although the factor analysis was performed for the structure validity of the scale, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient and Bartlett test were used to determine the convenience of the data for the factor analysis. In the reliability analyses, the Cronbach alpha coefficient of internal consistency was calculated as .96, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was .81. In the exploratory factor analysis for validity of the scale, four factors were obtained, and the factors represented workplace physical conditions (25.7% of the total variance), workplace psychosocial and economic factors (19.3% of the total variance), workplace health problems (15.2% of the total variance), and school problems (10.1% of the total variance). The four factors explained 70.3% of the total variance. As a result of the expert opinions and analyses, a stress scale with 48 items was developed. The highest score to be obtained from the scale was 144, and the lowest score was 0. The increase in the score indicates the increase in the stress levels. The findings show that the scale is a valid and reliable assessment instrument that can be used in epidemiological research and planning interventions.

Framing the matter differently: the political dynamics of European Union labour migration policymaking

Most of the scholarly literature on European Union immigration policymaking has emphasized the predominance of governmental actors. The major changes entailed in the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, however, imply a significant increase in supranationalism and necessitate rethinking earlier conclusions. Exploring the concomitant rise of policy entrepreneurship traits in the actions taken by the European Commission, this article emphasizes the role of discourse structuration in managing policymaking in a contested and controversial policy domain. The Commission is thus gaining more influence and importance, partially facilitated by institutional changes in the Lisbon Treaty, but mainly due to astute policy entrepreneurship in facilitating consensus. Framing problems in a fashion that maximizes potential agreement by member state governments facilitates political agreement regarding potentially divisive policy proposals. Discursive elements are created and circulated that are designed to appeal, render political implementation at the national level unproblematic and, in some cases, are deliberately bipartisan in nature. Thus, great rhetorical emphasis is placed on linking policy with competitiveness, economic growth and the Europe 2020 agenda to appeal to centre-right concerns, but in the case of temporary migration links are also constructed to centre-left issues, including enhancing migrant rights, avoiding exploitation and creating benefits for sending countries. Empirically, the article focuses on the politics surrounding the genesis of the directive on highly qualified migrant workers (the so-called Blue Card) and the migrant seasonal workers directive.

Los nuevos escenarios de transmisión de la fiebre hemorrágica Argentina desde la introducción de la vacuna a virus Junín vivo atenuado (candid#1): una experiencia en trabajadores golondrinas

The Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is a severe acute viral disease caused by the Junin virus of the Arenaviridae family. The AHF endemic area coincides geographically with the largest grain export agro-industrial complex of the country [Argentina]. Since the implementation of vaccination with the Candid #1 vaccine, a significant reduction in incidence was achieved and risk patterns were modified. A previous study allowed characterizing these changes and identifying three transmission scenarios: classic, emergent-reemergent, and traveler. The latter scenario includes seasonal migrant workers who move each year, mainly from the province of Santiago del Estero, the endemic area to work in the detasseling of maize. With the objective of protecting this group of workers, a prevention campaign was initiated which included: capacity building of health personnel in the province, health education, and immunization with the vaccine Candid #1. 3,021 workers were vaccinated. Prior to vaccination, serum samples were taken from a group of 104 volunteers. Tests for neutralizing antibodies specific to the Junin virus were performed and 6 (5.76%) tested positive. The unexpected finding of a high percentage of workers with antibodies suggests the need to evaluate several hypotheses: a) that the result is the product of non-probabilistic sampling; b) that it could be people who fell ill in previous travels, c) or who were vaccinated in previous travels; or d) consider this region as an emerging scenario.

Psychosocial stress associated with sanitation practices: experiences of women in a rural community in India

This study examined sources of psychosocial stress related to the use of toilet facilities or open defecation by women and adolescent girls at home, public places, workplaces and in schools in a rural community in Pune, India. The mixed methods approach included focus group discussions among women, key informant interviews, free listing and a community survey of 306 women. Nine per cent of the study households and most seasonal migrant women workers lacked access to toilets. Fear for personal safety, injury or accidents, lack of cleanliness, indignity, shame and embarrassment due to a lack of privacy were significant sources of stress related to open defecation. Seasonal migrant women workers perceived the lack of privacy as a significant source of psychosocial stress but did not fear for their personal safety or injuries, despite their general lack of access to toilet facilities. Women resorting to open defecation feel stressed and harassed by community leaders trying to enforce open defecation-free policies. Our study highlights the need for sanitation programs to consider the specific needs of women with regard to latrine maintenance, safety and privacy offered by sanitation installations. Specific strategies to address the sanitation and hygiene issues of seasonal migrant populations are also required.

The eu Seasonal Workers Directive: When Immigration Controls Meet Labour Rights

The Seasonal Workers Directive combines immigration law, which regulates entry and stay in a territory, with labour law, which governs the rights of workers. The different interests and expertise of the various eu institutions involved in the Directive’s drafting and adoption exacerbated the tension between these two legal fields. In turn, this tension compromised the achievement of several of the eu’s explicit objectives, namely, creating a level playing field for the recruitment of seasonal migrant workers across the Member States, instituting a circular migration program, and protecting migrant workers from economic and social exploitation. This article focuses on the extent to which the Directive has the capacity to protect seasonal migrant workers. To do so, it sketches the history of the Directive and discusses some consequences of its treaty basis, which provides the context for our analysis and evaluation of the substantive provisions of the Directive.

Practices of the Seasonal Migrant Workers’ Children in Play

Seasonal migrant and temporary agricultural labour is a form of employment emerging in the process of labour-intensive farming. Both academic studies and surveys conducted by various national/international organizations tried to address different dimensions and problem areas of the issue. They mostly focus on working and living conditions of the workers and child/female labour in these works. Still, these studies rarely focus specifically on the state of children aged 0 - 6 years in their early living and working environments. Throughout the period in which their families are engaged in seasonal works, these children share the same environment with adults, face same risks and receive no special care or attention. Given these facts, the objective of the study is stated as follows: “Exposing, through scientific methods, social, cognitive and developmental problems of 0 - 6-year-old children of families engaged in migrant-seasonal agricultural work of labour-intensive character and developing social policy suggestions for improving their life quality on the basis of findings to be obtained.” Within this framework, 7 to 10 days long field surveys were conducted with the participation of researchers from different disciplines in provinces and districts in order to conduct in situ observations on children aged 0 - 6 years. Participatory observation is adopted as the basic method in this survey. They mostly play with sand, inventing games by loading and unloading sand from a vessel or shaping it in some way. In two-child games children play together or parallel games. Also, gender preference is absent in this age group while choosing playing partners.

Forced Labour and Migrant Berry Pickers in Sweden

Groups of migrant berry pickers arriving annually in Sweden from both Asia and the newer European Union Member States have been subject to exploitation over the years. The problem appears to persist in spite of public and international concern and successive regulatory reforms. An examination of this problem from a forced labour perspective suggests inadequate implementation and application of international norms in Swedish law, as well as deficiencies in the application of criminal-law and in regulatory oversight. Policy recommendations regarding the labour conditions for seasonal migrant workers in Sweden are put forward. Lars Riberth, deputy rector, Bräcke, has tired of seeing how the berry pickers are mistreated, and started a financial collection. 'This is a form of modern slavery,' says Lars Riberth. (Kyrkans Tidning, 26 August 2010)

Migrant worker acculturation in China

Chinese migrant workers form a substantial body of people who move to large cities from rural areas to seek employment. As they settle into the large urban cities, these internal migrants experience challenges that are similar to those of international migrants, and of members of ethnic groups who engage in the process of acculturation. Many see this flow as a problem, one that needs to be understood through research using evidence based on concepts and methods used in international acculturation research. In the present study, we examine the Urban Identity of 787 migrants, using the Migrant Workers’ Urban Identity Questionnaire developed by Gui (2010). This instrument distinguishes two aspects of urban identity: social identity and place identity. In addition, 328 of these respondents were tested with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, Emmons, Larson, & Griffin, 1985) and the Global Self-Worth Scale (Huang & Yang, 1998). Findings show that the acculturation strategies model based on international immigrants’ identity can apply to the seasonal migrant workers’ identity. With respect to their acculturation strategies: (1) different operationalisations of the second dimension in the two dimension model lead to a different classification of acculturation strategies; the ‘deeper’ the psychological phenomena the less migrant workers want to engage the national society; (2) different acculturation strategies were favored in social identity and place identity domains; (3) data from the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Global Self-Worth Scale shows, by and large, that integration is the best acculturation strategy (and the marginalization the worst) for achieving wellbeing in both social identity and in place identity. This corresponds to findings and conclusions of much of the previous research on acculturation based on international migration.

Caracterização sócio-econômica do trabalhador temporário da indústria canavieira em Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais, Brasil

A indústria sucroalcooleira, nos moldes que se apresenta na atualidade brasileira, implica na geração de impactos econômicos, ambientais e sociais. Nesse último ressalta-se a geração de empregos e a constituição do profissional temporário, o cortador de cana. A pesquisa teve como objetivo caracterizar algumas variáveis sócio-econômicas relativas ao trabalhador temporário da agroindústria canavieira de Lagoa da Prata, Minas Gerais. O trabalho buscou, mediante uma pesquisa documental exploratória de natureza quantitativa e descritiva, caracterizar o perfil sócio-econômico dos trabalhadores temporários da agroindústria canavieira de Lagoa da Prata - MG. Os resultados indicam que a maioria dos trabalhadores temporários do setor sucroalcooleiro são migrantes, homens e jovens, com ensino fundamental incompleto, sendo a maioria não sindicalizado. A presença majoritária de jovens evidencia a correlação entre a disposição física e a força muscular exigida pelo trabalho proposto. A maioria sendo migrantes sazonais pode ser explicada pela inibição dos trabalhadores locais diante do baixo salário oferecido, associados ao trabalho pesado e desgastante do corte da cana. A priorização do trabalhador do sexo masculino em detrimento do sexo feminino se justificou pela superioridade biológica natural para o desempenho do trabalho e pela maior oferta de mão-de-obra.

Male Honor and the Ruralization of HIV/AIDS in Michoacán. A Case of Indigenous Return Migration in Mexico

AbstractThe purpose of this text is to analyse the motives of seasonal migrant workers for attempting to get their wives pregnant when they return to Mexico. The meanings attributed to paternity, pregnancy and rearing are analysed from the perspective of the migrant worker and his wife. Ethnographic research was conducted in several Purépecha communities in Michoacán, supported by interviews with indigenous, who travelled to the United States for periods of up to three years, and with their wives, who stayed in Mexico. The migrant workers interviewed consider pregnancy and the paternity derived from it as an important means of male legitimization and sexual control of their wives, particularly valid in their rural communities of origin, where they know they are absentee males. When they return to Mexico they seek sexual relations for reproductive purposes, since they fear their wives will have extramarital relations in their absence. From these findings, it was considered necessary to implement sexual and reproductive health policies with pluri‐ethnic and gender approaches that take into account male beliefs and practices regarding paternity and pregnancy in a rural context. The development of sensitizing policies aimed at migrant males during their stays in Mexico is recommended.

Advancing the Rights of Non-Citizens in Canada: A Human Rights Approach to Migrant Rights

Focusing on seasonal agricultural migrant workers in Canada, this article illustrates how local migrant rights activists have utilized different judicial fora to claim rights for non-citizen migrant workers under the international human rights framework. The article underscores the role of litigation by activists who, citing international norms and conventions, claim that protections provided by domestic constitutional provisions and labor laws should be extended to non-citizen migrants. The importance of judges' willingness to recognize the international law framework is also underscored. This article contributes to human rights studies by emphasizing the transformative role of judicial agency in the fight for the extension of human rights protections. Relative to citizens, non-citizens are a group lacking in political power and as such vulnerable to having their interests overlooked and their rights to equal concern and respect violated.

Exposure of Seasonal Migrant Workers to Onchocerca volvulus on Coffee Plantations in Guatemala

Onchocerciasis (river blindness), which is close to being eliminated from Guatemala through semiannual administration of ivermectin, is still transmitted in one area of the country that coincidentally receives an annual influx of migrant workers to harvest coffee. Migrant workers generally are not included in semiannual ivermectin treatments, but if infected could serve as a reservoir. We report on two studies undertaken to measure the exposure to onchocerciasis (presence of IgG4 antibodies to a recombinant Onchocerca volvulus antigen, OV-16) among migrant workers. During two coffee harvest seasons, 170 migrant workers with a history of working in the disease-endemic area were tested and 1 (0.6%, 95% confidence interval = 0-3.2%) was seropositive. This low rate of exposure in migrant workers indicates that they are unlikely to play a significant role in transmission of onchocerciasis and may indicate that transmission in the last remaining disease-endemic area of Guatemala is decreasing significantly.

Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence Among Latina Women

This study examined experiences with intimate partner violence in 292 Latina women classified as U.S. born, immigrant, or migrant-seasonal workers. High lifetime rates of violence were found, with 33.9% reporting physical violence, 20.9% reporting sexual coercion, and 82.5% reporting psychological aggression. Rates of violence in the preceding year were also high, with 18.5% experiencing physical violence, 14.4% experiencing sexual coercion, and 72.6% experiencing psychological aggression. Participants' marital status and partners' substance use were associated with victimization. The present findings suggest the need for screening for intimate partner violence and associated risk factors in settings that serve Latina women.