COVID-19 and Migrant Worker Welfare: Perspectives and Policy Proposals from Southeast Asia
Micaela Cayton Garrido, MA | September 21 | 1:45-2:45 pm
Topic: Research, International | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
This presentation is a consolidation of migrant worker experiences and lessons learned three years after the onset of COVID-19, drawing upon interviews conducted in May through September 2022 and return interviews in 2023 with 21 migrant workers from the Philippines and 17 stakeholders involved in migrant worker affairs in the Southeast Asia region. Funded by a Fulbright scholarship grant, the purpose of this study is to understand unique considerations around migrant workers’ experiences and occupational safety and health specifically during COVID-19 worldwide lockdowns. Using both direct and indirect recruitment methods, research participants were interviewed in-person, over the phone, or through online video-conferencing platforms. Through in-depth interviews, this research and presentation puts workers voices in the center of both the COVID-19 experience and in policy recommendations. The presentation will report on their responses regarding COVID-19 lockdown coping mechanisms, concerns regarding work conditions, treatment and access to healthcare, financial aid, or other types of support. The presentation will conclude with respondents’ proposed measures to help redefine what constitutes migrant worker occupational safety and health in the context of public health crises, and in general, for the future of migrant work. At the Q&A session, the presenter will open the floor for attendees to share their own ideas and thoughts about the future of work and occupational safety and health in a post- pandemic world.
Presentation Objectives:
· Provide an overview of the research study, including main questions, methodology, and findings
· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research
· Describe risk factors and preventative measures to address or avoid labor exploitation and trafficking in the context of public health emergencies (specifically COVID-19) and migrant labor