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Many migrant workers face poor H&S conditions
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03/03/2008
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In a new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the European Risk Observatory (ERO) provides an overview of the most important issues relating to the occupational safety and health (OSH) of migrant workers.
Migration can bring career opportunities that can enhance workers’ general wellbeing, but it can also involve a degree of deskilling and downward social mobility which can be associated with potential health and safety problems.
“Migrant workers are often over-represented in high-risk sectors and in the so-called 3D jobs – dirty, dangerous and demanding,” says Jukka Takala, director of EU-OSHA, of which ERO is an integral part.
“Their work is often characterised by uncertainty, poor working conditions and low wages. This is a serious concern all over Europe.” The ERO literature survey provides an overview of migration in the EU and outlines the most significant OSH issues affecting migrant workers.
Existing evidence suggests a concentration of migrant workers in certain sectors and occupations: on the one hand, they work in high skill professions such as IT, on the other hand, many face poorer working conditions in sectors such as transport and the food sector.
Labour market segmentation can have negative consequences in terms of lower wages, longer working hours, higher occupational instability, more physically demanding and monotonous work and more risks of accidents at work.
Migrant workers face additional health and safety risks due to their relatively short period of work in the host countries and their limited knowledge of the health and safety systems in place. They also report being subject to harassment more frequently than their native counterparts. Coupled with more unfavourable working conditions, higher rates of stress and burnout are one visible consequence.
Safety and health of migrant workers is an ongoing concern in the EU. Therefore, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work will continue to monitor the state of knowledge on the topic and promote the exchange of existing good practice information through its website
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Author
Chris Rowlands
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