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This study aims to understand the migratory experience and the employment, work and health conditions of the returned migrants from Spain to Colombia. A qualitative study was conducted by means of 23 semi-structured interviews with Colombian returned migrant workers. Qualitative narrative content analysis was performed using Atlas.Ti software. Main findings are represented by nine categories emerged from the participants' discourses: (1) impact of the economic crisis on work and employment conditions in Spain, (2) economic crisis and return, (3) characteristics of returnees, (4) perception of the returnees about Colombia, (5) the role of social support networks, (6) employment and working conditions in Colombia, (7) health and wellbeing, (8) future plans and expectations, (9) the experience of being immigrant. Adjustment difficulties in participants are evidenced by the return migration process and the conditions of the social, political and economic system in Colombia. Return migration represents the reconfiguration of personal and working lives of this population. This situation requires the development of global policies and strategies in public health to facilitate the adaptation of these people.

Objective: Published studies are not conclusive on the impact of certain occupational exposures in pregnancy, stressing the need to consider the double role, professional and family, of women. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of employment and domestic load on the duration of pregnancy and fetal development., Methods: Using Univariate and Multivariate regression models, we studied the association of preterm deliveries (PPT) (<37 weeks), full term newborns with low weight (BPT) (<2500g) and small for their gestational age (PEG) (<10th percentile) in weight, length and head circumference according to work situation (employment/non-employment) and domestic load (low/ medium/ high) in 2506 women. The analyses were carried out using SPSS and R., Results: Women with medium domestic load have lower risk of PPT (OR=0.41, 95%CI:0.21-0.81), PEG in weight (OR=0.47, 95%CI:0.32-0.69), length (OR=0.57, 95%CI:0.39-0.83) and head circumference (OR=0.58, 95% CI:0.40-0.83) and with high load PEG in weight (OR=0.72,95%CI:0.54-0.98) and head circumference (OR = 0.73, 95% CI:0.54-0.99). When analyzing employment situation and domestic load, women with medium domestic load have less risk of PPT (OR=0.29, 95%CI:0.14-0.58) than the absence of load or high domestic load., Conclusions: The results show a protective effect of the medium and high domestic load, reducing the probability of preterm birth and small for gestational age babies.

Background: The relationship between immigration, work, and health is one of the most important challenges in occupational health at current, particularly in Spain, by the significant increase in the migrant workers in the labor market occurred. This investigation aims to know the relationship betwen working conditions and their effects on migrant workers., Methods: Scoping review of scientific papers on this topic at the Medline and Medes databases in Spanish and English (1998-2012). The articles included were full text reviewed., Results: 20 studies were included, 13 with quantitative methodology and 7 qualitative. The topics address specific health problems related to work (primarily occupational accidents), disability, and differences in working conditions and employment. The findings of the studies show a higher incidence of injury accidents, lower rates of disability, higher prevalence of work presenteeism, exposure to psychosocial factors, and precariousness., Conclusion: Despite the uniqueness of the demographic process migration happened in Spain, health problems and determinants identified no different from those referenced in other countries, in other contexts and in other times.

Objective: To examine the perceptions of female immigrant domestic workers of the effect of Royal Decree 1620/2011, which regulates the relationship of domestic workers in the family home and their employment conditions in Spain., Methods: An exploratory study was performed using qualitative content analysis of three focus group discussions with immigrant women from Colombia, Ecuador and Morocco., Results: Immigrant women positively assessed the theoretical benefits of the new regulation, but identified legal and economic barriers to obtaining a contract and being registered in the social security system by their employers, and to employers accepting the cost of these measures, especially for workers hired by the hour. These difficulties affected their possibilities of legalizing their status. The economic crisis posed a serious challenge to compliance with the new regulation., Conclusions: Although the new regime encourages job creation with stronger working rights for these workers, immigrant women perceived that its implementation has been hampered by the current financial crisis and has not, therefore, improved their employment conditions., (Copyright © 2013 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Gender inequalities exist in work life, but little is known about their presence in relation to factors examined in occupation health settings. The aim of this study was to identify and summarize the working and employment conditions described as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health in studies related to occupational health published between 1999 and 2010., Methods: A systematic literature review was undertaken of studies available in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sociological Abstracts, LILACS, EconLit and CINAHL between 1999 and 2010. Epidemiologic studies were selected by applying a set of inclusion criteria to the title, abstract, and complete text. The quality of the studies was also assessed. Selected studies were qualitatively analysed, resulting in a compilation of all differences between women and men in the prevalence of exposure to working and employment conditions and work-related health problems as outcomes., Results: Most of the 30 studies included were conducted in Europe (n=19) and had a cross-sectional design (n=24). The most common topic analysed was related to the exposure to work-related psychosocial hazards (n=8). Employed women had more job insecurity, lower control, worse contractual working conditions and poorer self-perceived physical and mental health than men did. Conversely, employed men had a higher degree of physically demanding work, lower support, higher levels of effort-reward imbalance, higher job status, were more exposed to noise and worked longer hours than women did., Conclusions: This systematic review has identified a set of working and employment conditions as determinants of gender inequalities in occupational health from the occupational health literature. These results may be useful to policy makers seeking to reduce gender inequalities in occupational health, and to researchers wishing to analyse these determinants in greater depth.

One of the most important social phenomena in the global context is the flow of immigration from developing countries, motivated by economic and employment related issues. Discrimination can be approached as a health risk factor within the immigrant population's working environment, especially for those immigrants at greater risk from social exclusion and marginalisation. The aim of this study is to research perceptions of discrimination and the specific relationship between discrimination in the workplace and health among Spain's immigrant population. A qualitative study was performed by means of 84 interviews and 12 focus groups held with immigrant workers in five cities in Spain receiving a large influx of immigrants (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Huelva), covering representative immigrant communities in Spain (Romanians, Moroccans, Ecuadorians, Colombians and Sub-Saharan Africans). Discourse narrative content analysis was performed using pre-established categories and gradually incorporating other emerging categories from the immigrant interviewees themselves. The participants reported instances of discrimination in their community and working life, characterised by experiences of racism, mistreatment and precarious working conditions in comparison to the Spanish-born population. They also talked about limitations in terms of accessible occupations (mainly construction, the hotel and restaurant trade, domestic service and agriculture), and described major difficulties accessing other types of work (for example public administration). They also identified political and legal structural barriers related with social institutions. Experiences of discrimination can affect their mental health and are decisive factors regarding access to healthcare services. Our results suggest the need to adopt integration policies in both the countries of origin and the host country, to acknowledge labour and social rights, and to conduct further research into individual and social factors that affect the health of the immigrant populations.

To analyze the relationship of legal status and employment conditions with health indicators in foreign-born and Spanish-born workers in Spain.Cross-sectional study of 1,849 foreign-born and 509 Spanish-born workers (2008–2009, ITSAL Project). Considered employment conditions: permanent, temporary and no contract (foreign-born and Spanish-born); considered legal statuses: documented and undocumented (foreign-born). Joint relationships with self-rated health (SRH) and mental health (MH) were analyzed via logistical regression.When compared with male permanently contracted Spanish-born workers, worse health is seen in undocumented foreign-born, time in Spain ≤3 years (SRH aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.09–6.56; MH aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.15–4.42); in Spanish-born, temporary contracts (SRH aOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.04–5.53); and in foreign-born, temporary contracts, time in Spain >3 years (MH: aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.13–3.38). In females, highest self-rated health risks are in foreign-born, temporary contracts (aOR 2.36, 95% CI 1.13–4.91) and without contracts, time in Spain >3 years (aOR 4.63, 95% CI 1.95–10.97).Contract type is a health determinant in both foreign-born and Spanish-born workers. This study offers an uncommon exploration of undocumented migration and raises methodological issues to consider in future research.

This study aims to explore the perceptions of the Venezuelan immigrant population in Medellín, Colombia, regarding their employment, working and health conditions (physical, mental and psychosocial). A qualitative study was conducted (focused ethnography perspective). Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with 31 Venezuelans and 12 key informants from different social organisations that work with the immigrant population. A narrative content analysis was carried out (Atlas.Ti 8.0 software). The migratory process for Venezuelans is caused for political, economical and social aspects in Venezuela and Colombia is offered as the first destination for labour establishing. Access to the labour market is limited to certain occupations, in many cases in the informal economy. Participants referring low salaries, working long hours and reduced social benefits. Occupational risks are evidenced by low experience in the labour market. Some health problems are perceived, and a good part of the interviewed population referred to signs and symptoms related to mental health problems. Barriers to access health and social protection services were found. Finally, future expectations depend on their adaptation to Colombia, the improvement of social conditions in Venezuela or having chances of improving their social and living conditions in another country. A high labour and social vulnerability were found in Venezuelan participants that impact on physical and mental health. Political and strategies from a public health perspective are required and the implementation of systems for monitoring and evaluating the labour and health situation in the working immigrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to analyze oral health services use and related factors in the immigrant working population compared to the Spanish counterparts. Cross-sectional study of working population (n = 8591) that responded Spanish National Health Survey (SNHS), 2011-2012. The association between oral health services use and migration status was estimated using logistic regression. Immigrant men presented a greater probability of oral health service use a year or more prior (aOR 1.63; 95% CI 1.26-2.02), independently of oral health, sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. In immigrant women, greater probability of use of oral health services one year or more prior disappeared after adjusting for the same variables (aOR 1.15; 95% CI 0.91-1.45). Occupational social class and education level could explain better a high percentage of oral health service use one year or more prior in immigrant women but there is a persistent inequality in oral health service use in immigrant men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay for the collection on Human Trafficking, Exploitation, and Health, Elena Ronda-Perez and colleague discuss ways occupational health services can detect and address labour trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective.To determine migrant workers' exposure to select occupational risks and compare it with that of non-migrant workers in Europe. Design.Based on the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS-2005,n=29,654 workers, 31 countries) we examined differential prevalence amongst migrant and non-migrant workers' primary paid jobs in terms of employment arrangements (working >10 hours/day, working >5 days/week, on Sundays, without a contract, changes in the work schedule and not free to decide when to take holidays or days off) and working conditions (exposure to hazards including chemical, physical agents, physical load and psychological conditions). For the purpose of this study, a migrant is defined as a person without nationality of the country of residence (n=926). Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for age, economic sector and education were calculated. Results.Differences in employment arrangements and working conditions were noted by migration status, gender and occupational status. Among non-manual workers, migrant males are more exposed than non-migrant males to negative psychosocial conditions – working at a very high speed (aPR 1.23; 95% CI 1.07–1.42) and shift work (aPR 1.66; 95% CI 1.27–2.17) – and adverse employment arrangements: working on Sundays (aPR 1.91; 95% CI 1.42–2.55), variable starting/finishing times (aPR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04–1.32) and changes in work schedule (aPR 1.56; 95% CI 1.30–1.88). Compared with non-migrant males, male migrant manual workers are the group with a greater number of disparities in terms of exposure to negative working conditions. Female migrant non-manual workers are more exposed to psychosocial conditions – working at very high speed (aPR 1.26; 95% CI 1.10–1.44) and shift work (aPR 1.61; 95% CI 1.29–2.01) while female manual migrant workers were more likely to report standing or walking (aPR 2.43; 95% CI 1.98–2.97), not having a contract (aPR 2.94; 95% CI 2.07–4.10) and not being free to decide days off and holidays (aPR 1.25; 95% CI 1.07–1.48) than non-migrants. Conclusion.Migrant workers across Europe are more likely to be exposed to certain working and employment arrangements that may place them at higher risk of future health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]