A rapid scoping review of COVID‐19 and vulnerable workers: Intersecting occupational and public health issues

Abstract

Background This article reports the results of a rapid scoping review of the literature on COVID‐19 transmission risk to workers in essential sectors such as retail, health care, manufacturing, and agriculture, and more particularly the experiences of workers in precarious employment and social situations. Methods Following scoping review methods, we included 30 studies that varied in terms of methodology and theoretical approaches. The search included peer‐reviewed articles and grey literature published between March and September 2020. Results Based on the studies reviewed, we found that COVID‐19 infection and death rates increased not only with age and comorbidities, but also with discrimination and structural inequities based on racism and sexism. Racial and ethnic minority workers, including migrant workers, are concentrated in high‐risk occupations and this concentration is correlated to lower socioeconomic conditions. The COVID‐19 pandemic appears in the occupational health and safety spotlight as an exacerbator of already existing socioeconomic inequalities and social inequalities in health, especially in light of the intersection of issues related to racism, ethnic minority status, and sexism. Conclusions This review provides early evidence about the limitations of institutions' responses to the pandemic, and their capacity to provide a safe and decent working environment for all workers, regardless of their employment status or the social protections they may enjoy under normal circumstances. It is also important to think about these issues in the postpandemic context, when conditions of precariousness and vulnerability persist and possibly worsen.

Precarious employment and health in the context of COVID-19: a rapid scoping umbrella review

“…We disaggregated the reviews and the studies they included in terms of their focus. Two reviews focused on workers in general, 24 , 25 and four focused on groups particularly vulnerable to precarious work [two focused on essential workers, 26 , 27 one focused on young workers (people aged ≤30 years) 21 and one focused on migrant workers 22 ]. Of the 30 relevant primary studies contained in the reviews, 25 covered essential non-health workers and 5 covered workers in general.…”

“…Finally, Côté et al 26 undertook a rapid scoping review to narratively synthesize the literature on COVID-19 transmission risk for workers, with an emphasis on essential workers. Of the 30 studies identified by the authors, 8 were relevant to the current review and 6 focused on essential workers.…”

Occupation and COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalisation and ICU admission among foreign-born and Swedish-born employees: a register-based study

“…[12][13][14][15][16] In many Western countries, foreign-born individuals are overrepresented in less well paid essential occupations that are often characterised by poor working conditions and elevated risk of infection. [17][18][19] Analysing occupational risk of COVID-19 among the foreign-born population could shed further light on both the determinants of the infection and the right groups to target in working to reduce COVID-19 cases and associated deaths. However, the contribution of occupation to the risk of COVID-19 among foreign-born individuals in Sweden has not been studied.…”

Sickness Presenteeism in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Is Presenteeism Remote-Work Behavior the New (Ab)normal?

“…Inequities were even more pronounced among women and regarding race. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared as a catalyst of socioeconomic inequalities in health, including migrant workers, and pejorative actions emerged associated with the phenomena of racism, ethnic minority status, and sexism (Côté et al, 2021).…”