New Solutions
Volume 29, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 397-421

Occupational Health and Safety for Migrant Domestic Workers in Canada: Dimensions of (Im)mobility (Article)

Hill N.S.* , Dorow S. , Barnetson B. , Martinez J.F. , Matsunaga-Turnbull J.
  • a University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
  • b University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
  • c Athabasca UniversityAB, Canada
  • d University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
  • e Alberta Workers’ Health Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Abstract

This study examines the occupational health and safety experiences of migrant workers employed as live-in caregivers in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Interviews with and surveys of caregivers identify four categories of common occupational hazards, including fatigue, psychosocial stress, physical hazards, and exposure to harassment and abuse. These hazards are systemically perpetuated, made invisible, and rendered irremediable by intertwined (im)mobilities. At the macrolevel, they include highly circumscribed and precarious conditions of transnational care migration such as indenturing to private and underregulated recruiters, federal policies that tie status to employers and employment, and changeable, rule-bound pathways to permanent residency. At the mesolevel, we find a volatile mix of mobilities and immobilities associated with employment in the oil economy of Fort McMurray, such as high population mobility and turnover, long work and commuting hours, and remoteness. And, at the microlevel, we find the everyday immobilities and highly circumscribed conditions and complexities of working and living with employers in private homes. © The Author(s) 2019.

Author Keywords

domestic work Occupational health and safety Migrant workers Alberta Canada

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071085690&doi=10.1177%2f1048291119867740&partnerID=40&md5=3a52d1a5bfd5213d945e463f50780af7
DOI: 10.1177/1048291119867740
ISSN: 10482911
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English