Immigration, employment relations, and health: Developing a research agenda

• DOI: 10.1002/ajim.20717
• Publication Date: 2009-07-08T08:32:53Z
• Authors: Joan Benach; Carles Muntaner; Haejoo Chung; Fernando G. Benav...
• Keywords: Employment; Developed Countries; Research; 1. No poverty; Health Status Disparities; Emigration and Immigration; Occupational Diseases; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Socioeconomic Factors; 8. Economic growth; Humans; Public Health; Occupations; Policy Making; Occupational Health

Abstract Background International migration has emerged as a global issue that transformed the lives of hundreds millions persons. Migrant workers contribute to economic growth high‐income countries often serving labour force performing dangerous, dirty and degrading work nationals are reluctant perform. Methods Critical examination scientific “grey” literatures on immigration, employment relations health. Results Both lay indicate public health researchers should be concerned about consequences processes. more represented in dangerous industries hazardous jobs, occupations tasks. They hired labourers precarious jobs with poverty wages experience serious abuse exploitation at workplace. Also, analyses document migrant workers' problems social exclusion, lack safety training, fear reprisals for demanding better working conditions, linguistic cultural barriers minimize effectiveness incomplete OHS surveillance foreign difficulty accessing care compensation when injured. Therefore status can an important source occupational inequalities. Conclusions Available evidence shows conditions associated organization most their The overall impact immigration population health, however, still is poorly understood many mechanisms, pathways documented. Current limitations highlight need engage explicit analytical, intervention policy research. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:338–343, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.