As if We Weren't Humans: The Abandonment of Temporary Migrants in Australia during COVID-19

Berg, Laurie; Farbenblum, Bassina

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3709527

Cited by 55 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…A recent analysis of the EU Labour Force Survey showed that migrants from outside the European Union were more likely to be in temporary employment, to earn lower wages and to have jobs that were less amenable to teleworking, than native‐born workers 10 . Migrants on temporary visas at the start of the outbreak in Australia (>1 million persons) were told to “go home” and were excluded from Government economic support packages 11 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID‐19

Reid

Rhonda-Perez

Schenker

2020

American J Industrial Med

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Globally, migrant and immigrant workers have borne the brunt of the COVID‐19 pandemic as essential workers. They might be a Bulgarian worker at a meat processing plant in Germany, a Central American farmworker in the fields of California, or a Filipino worker at an aged‐care facility in Australia. What they have in common is they are all essential workers who have worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic and have been infected with coronavirus at work. COVID‐19 has highlighted the inequitable working conditions of these workers. In many instances, they are employed precariously, and so are ineligible for sick leave or social security, or COVID‐19 special payments. If these are essential workers, they should get at least the same health and safety benefits of all nonessential workers. Improving the working and living conditions of migrant workers can and should be a positive outcome of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID‐19

Reid

Rhonda-Perez

Schenker

2020

American J Industrial Med

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“…For example, the Australian Working Holiday Program for young adults is different and more vulnerable than the regular working visa (Renzaho, 2016). These people may work as low‐skilled migrant workers like fruit pickers and, with other temporary visa holders, were excluded from the Australian COVID‐19 stimulus package (Berg & Farbenblum, 2020). A review in across 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) found different legal and policy frameworks related to social security for migrant workers in these countries, including health and work injury insurance, pension fund, and maternity coverage (ILO, 2018b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acculturative stress and coping among migrant workers: A global mixed‐methods systematic review

Liem¹,

Renzaho

Hannam

et al. 2021

Applied Psych Health & Well

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No existing review has synthesized key questions about acculturation experiences among international migrant workers. This review aimed to explore (1) What are global migrant workers’ experiences with acculturation and acculturative stress? (2) What are acculturative stress coping strategies used by migrant workers? And (3) how effective are these strategies for migrant workers in assisting their acculturation in the host countries? Peer‐reviewed and gray literature, without time limitation, were searched in six databases and included if the study: focused on acculturative stress and coping strategies; was conducted with international migrant workers; was published in English; and was empirical. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Three‐layered themes of acculturation process and acculturative stress were identified as: individual layer; work‐related layer; and social layer. Three key coping strategies were identified: emotion‐focused; problem‐focused; and appraisal‐focused. These coping strategies were used flexibly to increase coping effectiveness and evidence emerged that a particular type of acculturative stress might be solved more effectively by a specific coping strategy. Migrant workers faced numerous challenges in their acculturative process. Understanding this process and their coping strategies could be used in developing research and interventions to improve the well‐being of migrant workers.

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“…As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, students report facing heightened and new vulnerabilities as they encounter unforeseen challenges brought about by the social, economic, cultural and political uncertainties of the COVID global pandemic. Temporary migrants in Australia, including international students, have experienced xenophobia, and financial, food and housing insecurity, including the loss of financial support from both employment in Australia as well as their families in their home countries (Berg & Farbenblum, 2020). While the Australian Government encouraged temporary migrants and international students to return home in early April 2020 (Gibson & Moran, 2020), many did not or were unable to leave Australia as flights were unavailable or unaffordable, or there were restrictions on travelling to their home or transit countries due to border closures (Berg & Farbenblum, 2020).…”

Section: The Challenges Of the Covid-19 Pandemic For International Studentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Temporary migrants in Australia, including international students, have experienced xenophobia, and financial, food and housing insecurity, including the loss of financial support from both employment in Australia as well as their families in their home countries (Berg & Farbenblum, 2020). While the Australian Government encouraged temporary migrants and international students to return home in early April 2020 (Gibson & Moran, 2020), many did not or were unable to leave Australia as flights were unavailable or unaffordable, or there were restrictions on travelling to their home or transit countries due to border closures (Berg & Farbenblum, 2020). International students living in Melbourne were especially challenged as government restrictions and 'lockdown' measures extended over multiple months.…”

Section: The Challenges Of the Covid-19 Pandemic For International Studentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher Degree Students (HDR) during COVID-19

Gomes¹,

Hendry

Souza

et al. 2021

jis

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The wellbeing of higher degree research (HDR) students, or postgraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic has been of concern. In Australia, international students have queued for food parcels, while headlines report stark drops in international enrolments and the financial bottom line of universities. We undertook a pilot study using ethnographic interview methods to understand the lived experiences of current international and domestic HDR students at an Australian university in Melbourne, from June to August 2020 (n=26). In this paper, we discuss domestic and international students’ experiences during the pandemic. International HDR students faced similar challenges to domestic students, but experienced further stressors as temporary migrants. We discuss their experiences in relation to resilience, understood as a relational and collective quality. We suggest that institutions develop policies and programmes to address resilience and build students’ sense of belonging and connection, informed by how students cope with challenges such as COVID-19.

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As if We Weren't Humans: The Abandonment of Temporary Migrants in Australia during COVID-19

Abstract: Laurie and Bassina co-direct the Migrant Worker Justice Initiative (www.mwji.org), which engages in rigorous empirical research in Australia and globally to catalyse improved enforcement of rights and just remedies for temporary migrants.

Cited by 55 publications

References 2 publications

Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID‐19

Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID‐19

Acculturative stress and coping among migrant workers: A global mixed‐methods systematic review

Higher Degree Students (HDR) during COVID-19

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