Vulnerable Workers and COVID-19: Insights from a Survey of Members of the International Commission for Occupational Health

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on the health and wellbeing of populations directly through infection, as well as through serious societal and economic consequences such as unemployment and underemployment. The consequences could be even more severe for those more vulnerable to the disease, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Indeed, there is evidence that such vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected in terms of both, their health and the socioeconomic impact. The aim of our study was to determine whether occupational health (OH) professionals thought that the COVID-19 pandemic might further disadvantage any particular group(s) of vulnerable workers globally, and if so, which group(s). A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of OH professionals by means of an online questionnaire which was shared via email within the ICOH (International Commission for Occupational Health) community. Data was collected over a period of two weeks in May 2020 and 165 responses from 52 countries were received. In this paper, the responses relating to questions about vulnerable workers are reported and discussed. Globally, our responders felt that those in less secure jobs (precarious employment (79%) and informal work (69%)), or unemployed (63%), were the most at risk of further disadvantage from this pandemic. The majority felt that their governments could act to mitigate these effects. There were suggestions of short-term alleviation such as financial and social support, as well as calls for fundamental reviews of the underlying inequalities that leave populations so vulnerable to a crisis such as COVID-19.

Job Crafting: A Challenge to Promote Decent Work for Vulnerable Workers

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, accelerating trends that were already underway, such as insecurity, instability, and continuous changes to work contexts, with a dramatic decline in the number and quality of accessible jobs ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Kniffin et al, 2021 ). The people at greater risk are those already vulnerable because of their health, economic, or social conditions, including the old, the young, people in precarious employment, the unemployed, women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities ( Tamin et al, 2021 ). In this scenario, effective strategies needed for long-lasting recovery from the current crisis should not solely aim for a “return to normal” but rather strive to change policies and work practices that damage and diminish vulnerable workers ( Blustein et al, 2020 ).…”

The Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Advancing Decent Work, Inclusivity, and Positive Strength-Based Primary Preventive Interventions for Vulnerable Workers

“…Recent systemic shocks (e.g., September 11/2001, attacks in the United States;2007-2008 the global financial crisis) and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these trends (Blustein et al, 2020;Kniffin et al, 2021). Subjects at higher risk are those who were already vulnerable, marginalized, and discriminated against (Blustein et al, 2020;Tamin et al, 2021).…”

“…Recent systemic shocks (e.g., September 11/2001, attacks in the United States; 2007–2008 the global financial crisis) and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated these trends ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Kniffin et al, 2021 ). Subjects at higher risk are those who were already vulnerable, marginalized, and discriminated against ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Tamin et al, 2021 ). They are ethnic minorities, women, sexual minorities, immigrants, disabled people, precarious workers, young people, and older people, which are called by scholars as vulnerable workers ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Tamin et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Subjects at higher risk are those who were already vulnerable, marginalized, and discriminated against ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Tamin et al, 2021 ). They are ethnic minorities, women, sexual minorities, immigrants, disabled people, precarious workers, young people, and older people, which are called by scholars as vulnerable workers ( Blustein et al, 2020 ; Tamin et al, 2021 ). The concept of vulnerable workers is very wide, including a very heterogeneous variety of situations and conditions.…”

Unemployment Syndrome during COVID-19: A Comparison of Three Population Groups

“…In Spain, the direct and indirect effects of some necessary containment measures, given the rapid spread of the virus, have begun to manifest in a gradual increase in unemployment, as well as in a reduction in the wages and salaries of workers, abruptly altering the global economy. The general activity and the hotel, restaurant, transport, and leisure sectors have suffered a very pronounced drop [ 7 , 8 ]; depending on the geographical area, it was particularly intense in some regions of Southern Spain. The latest Labour Force Survey (EPA) reflects that the unemployment rate has risen to 16.3%, affecting 527,000 more workers than the previous year.…”