Effects of work on health of members of the Mongolian minority in the Czech Republic

Abstract

In all the advanced countries, there is a higher frequency of occupational injuries in foreigners compared to the majority population. The foreigners are not exposed to a significantly higher health risk during their employment, but the nature of the work performed by them contributes to the risk. Given the fact that foreigners account for nearly 3% of the total frequency of occupational injuries in the Czech Republic, based on certain investigations, it is possible to believe that the occurrence of their injuries is actually considerably higher and the injuries are considerably more frequent. A similar situation can also be expected in occupational diseases. The qualitative examination performed among the Mongolian population in the Czech Republic concerning the occupational effects on the health of migrants presented here is based on this hypothesis. The primary target of the present study was an analysis of occupational effects on the health of Mongolian migrants followed and relationships of these findings to available information on foreigners and occupational safety. The secondary target was finding of relationships between impacts of the work on the health and type of employment or condition of stay of the migrants. The data obtained are based on information from thirty-six semi-structured interviews with Mongolian migrants, which were analyzed by an analytical coding procedure in terms of grounded theory. The results supported the fact that a considerable proportion (almost two thirds) of the migrants followed worked under conditions endangering the health according to their own opinions. Injuries of limbs occurred most frequently, cases of poisoning from inhaled vapours of adhesives or frostbites being also frequent. In terms of the work and health a group of migrants employed through the mediation of agencies exerted most problems. In general, in addition to health consequences, occupational injuries or effects of work on the migrant health also included considerable problems for the stay of migrants in the Czech Republic, most frequently resulting in departure from the country or stay without the visa.