What is the relationship of precarious employment with the health of immigrant workers?

Background: Since the 1980s, changing power relations between capital and labor have led to the emergence of a new labour market. Globalization has led to growth in economically motivated migration. The subsequent increase in precarious employment has had a profound and negative impact on workers' health. Immigrant workers are especially affected by precarious employment. Our study aims to describe the relationship between precarious employment and the health of immigrant workers in Spain.

Methods: A qualitative interpretative study was carried out through individual interviews and focus groups. Criterion sampling was employed applying the following selection criteria: country of origin, administrative status (documented/undocumented) and both sexes. The final sample was 129 immigrant workers. Narrative content analysis with a mixed generation of categories was carried out. Four Spanish cities, all with a high proportion of immigrant population, made up the study area.

Results: Our informants reported various health problems they associated with their employment conditions. They described negative psychosocial conditions, such as lack of recognition or downgrading. They reported other health-related problems such as job dissatisfaction, stress, and unhealthy behaviors. They attributed some of these health problems to poor working conditions and also with their employment precariousness.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that precarious employment in immigrants might be related to a series of health problems through a complex combination of pathways and mechanisms that may lead not only to direct, but also to indirect, negative effects on their health. These factors can also highlight the potential links between precarious employment and health inequalities.