From lack of awareness to meticulous action. Strategies toward old-age pension insurance among Polish migrant domestic workers in Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol 148 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Kamil Matuszczyk
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Pension Plans ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
Migration Strategy ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Action Strategies

A significant proportion of migrant workers around the world have difficult access to social protection, especially long-term benefits such as pensions. Domestic care workers are a particularly vulnerable group in this regard. Analysing the example of Polish migration to Germany, the aim of this paper is to present the strategies that migrants aged 45 and over undertake in the context of pension plans and ensuring an adequate level of social protection while working abroad. Using empirical material collected during semi-structured interviews with migrant care workers, representatives of employment agencies and experts, the article sheds light on the diverse conditions that influence the strategies of individual workers. Depending on the general knowledge of their social rights, their migration strategy or their personal situation, migrants adopt three main strategies called (1) escape from problems instead of social security, (2) secure and legal work above all and (3) an informed and inquisitive insured worker.

The Employment of Migrant Workers in Long-Term Care: Dynamics of Choice and Control

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
ISABEL SHUTES
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Home Care Providers ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe employment of migrant workers in long-term care is increasingly evident across western welfare states. This article examines the ways in which immigration controls shape the exercising of choice and control by migrant care workers over their labour. It draws on the findings of in-depth interviews with migrant care workers employed by residential and home care providers and by older people and their families in the UK. It is argued that the differential rights accorded to migrants on the basis of citizenship and immigration status shape, first, entry into particular types of care work, second, powers of ‘exit’ within work, and, third, ‘voice’ regarding the conditions under which care labour is provided.

Taking Stock of Regional Democratic Trends in Africa and the Middle East Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The State ◽  
Medical Attention ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
The Impact

This GSoD In Focus aims at providing a brief overview of the state of democracy in Africa and the Middle East at the end of 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, and then assesses some of the preliminary impacts that the pandemic has had on democracy in the region in the last 10 months. Key facts and findings include: Africa • In 2019 alone, 75 per cent of African democracies saw their scores decline, and electoral processes in Africa have failed to become the path for political reform and democratic politics. The reasons are many, including weak electoral management and executive aggrandizement. • The key challenges to democracy brought about by the pandemic involve the management of elections, restrictions on civil liberties (especially freedom of expression), worsening gender equality, deepening social and economic inequalities, a disruption to education, deterioration of media integrity, disruption of parliaments and an amplified risk of corruption. These challenges exacerbate and accelerate long-standing problems in the region. • Despite the challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic might galvanize governments to reinforce public health and social protection mechanisms, rendering the state more able to cushion the impact of the crisis, and enhancing its legitimacy. The Middle East • The Middle East is the most undemocratic region in the world. Only 2 out of 13 countries in the region are democracies. The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the economic and social problems of the region, which could exacerbate the pre-existing democratic challenges. • Freedoms of expression and media were severely curtailed in many countries in the region prior to the pandemic. In some cases, COVID-19 has aggravated this. Countries have closed media outlets and banned the printing and distribution of newspapers, under the pretext of combating the spread of COVID-19. This has restricted citizens’ access to information. • Migrant workers and internally displaced people have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19. A significant proportion of the infections in the region have been in impoverished migrant and refugee communities. In the Gulf region, curfews and lockdowns have resulted in many migrants losing their livelihood, right to medical attention and even repatriation. Migrants have also faced discrimination often being held in detention centres, in poor conditions, as part of governmental efforts to curb the number of COVID-19 infections among citizens. The review of the state of democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 uses qualitative analysis and data of events and trends in the region collected through International IDEA’s Global Monitor of COVID-19’s Impact on Democracy and Human Rights, an initiative co-funded by the European Union.

Uwarunkowania i konsekwencje migracji zarobkowych z Polski do innych państw Unii Europejskiej w perspektywie społeczno-ekonomicznej

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
Michał Kubiak
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Employment Policy ◽  
Migration Strategy ◽  
The Social ◽  
Economic Migration ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Free Movement Of Persons

The subject of this article is the question of the social consequences of economic migration. Migrant workers contribute to growth and development in theircountries but in the long term perspective mass migrations of citizens abroad may causeserious social crisis. Migrations are a serious threat to family policy, employment policy andsocial security of citizens. Migration strategy the state should find a solution which on the onehand will make use of the gains offered by the free movement of persons on the other handwill stop the negative social effects of migration.

Lessons for regulating informal markets and implications for quality assurance – the case of migrant care workers in Austria

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREA E. SCHMIDT ◽  
JULIANE WINKELMANN ◽  
RICARDO RODRIGUES ◽  
KAI LEICHSENRING
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Family Care ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers

ABSTRACTThe rising number of private care arrangements in which live-in migrant care workers are engaged as a functional equivalent to family care calls for special attention by policy makers and formal long-term care providers on their implications for quality assurance and professional standards in the long-term care sector. Austria is one of the first countries in Europe where tangible legal measures have been taken to regulate this area under the heading of ‘24-hour care’, typically provided by middle-aged women. Reform measures went beyond policing and control mechanisms, including also incentives and tangible subsidies for all stakeholders. This paper contributes to a better understanding of their impact on the transition from informal to formal economy, focusing on quality assurance and working conditions. Based on empirical data and findings from semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders, a framework for the analysis of ‘illegal markets', based on Beckert and Wehinger's theory, is used to discuss potential implications in terms of valuation, competition and co-operation for policy in Austria, and to draw lessons for other countries. Results indicate that even after efforts to ‘legalise’ migrant care, the sector remains a ‘grey’ area within modern labour market legislation and quality management. This is due to the very nature of personal care, low professional status associated with care work and the reluctance of political stakeholders to regulate private household activities.

scholarly journals Stressors and coping strategies of migrant workers diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e045949
Author(s):  
Kaisin Yee ◽  
Hui Peng Peh ◽  
Yee Pin Tan ◽  
Irene Teo ◽  
Emily U Tong Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Susceptibility To Infection ◽  
Set Up ◽  
And Coping

IntroductionThe health, psychological and socioeconomic vulnerabilities of low-wage migrant workers have been magnified in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in high-income receiving countries such as Singapore. We aimed to understand migrant worker concerns and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic to address these during the crisis and inform on comprehensive support needed after the crisis.MethodsIn-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out with migrant workers diagnosed with COVID-19. The participants were recruited from a COVID-19 mass quarantine facility in Singapore through a purposive sampling approach. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis performed to derive themes in their collective experience during the crisis.ResultsThree theme categories were derived from 27 interviews: migrant worker concerns during COVID-19, coping during COVID-19 and priorities after COVID-19. Major stressors in the crisis included the inability to continue providing for their families when work is disrupted, their susceptibility to infection in crowded dormitories, the shock of receiving the COVID-19 diagnosis while asymptomatic, as well as the isolating conditions of the quarantine environment. The workers coped by keeping in contact with their families, accessing healthcare, keeping updated with the news and continuing to practise their faith and religion. They looked forward to a return to normalcy after the crisis with keeping healthy and having access to healthcare as new priorities.ConclusionWe identified coping strategies employed by the workers in quarantine, many of which were made possible through the considered design of care and service delivery in mass quarantine facilities in Singapore. These can be adopted in the set-up of other mass quarantine facilities around the world to support the health and mental well-being of those quarantined. Our findings highlight the importance of targeted policy intervention for migrant workers, in areas such as housing and working environments, equitable access to healthcare, and social protection during and after this crisis.

The epistemological complexity of ideal care: long-term care professionals’ perspectives

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Hämäläinen
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Cognitive Impairments ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Care Practices ◽  
Epistemological Basis ◽  
Epistemological Complexity

The article elaborates what aspects of knowledge eldercare workers describe concerning everyday long-term care practices. The article utilises a thematic analysis of Finnish long-term care workers’ semi-structured interviews (n = 25), and in doing so, it contributes to the discussion concerning the epistemological basis of care. The analysis specifies four aspects of knowledge in long-term care work: objective/objectifying, particular, corporeal and tacit. In line with existing literature on knowledge and care, the findings indicate that rational-technical epistemological approaches are insufficient when complex and fluid care relations are concerned. Moreover, cognitive impairments and other particularities of eldercare provide previously under-researched epistemological perspectives for consideration.

scholarly journals Migrants’ Access to Social Protection in the Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Kristina Koldinská
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Pension Insurance ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Family Benefits ◽  
Basic Characteristics ◽  
Social Security Benefits

Abstract This chapter discusses the Czech social security system from the perspective of migrant workers and their families. The Czech Republic is a central European country whose population is quite homogeneous, so its migration policy is not a very welcoming one. Access to social security benefits for third-country nationals is connected to long-term residence. EU citizens have equal access to social benefits as Czech nationals. The chapter explains basic characteristics of the Czech social protection system (unemployment benefits, health care system, pension insurance, family benefits and social assistance benefits), with a special emphasis on accessibility for migrant workers and their families.

scholarly journals Alcohol in long-term care homes: A qualitative investigation with residents, relatives, care workers and managers

2021 ◽  
pp. 145507252110181
Author(s):  
Jakob Emiliussen ◽  
Søren Engelsen ◽  
Regina Christiansen ◽  
Anette Søgaard Nielsen ◽  
Søren Harnow Klausen
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Symbolic Value

Introduction: Western societies are aging rapidly, and habitual use of alcohol is changing among older adults. Hence, care facilities are facing novel challenges regarding alcohol use. This pioneering qualitative study seeks to investigate the role of alcohol in care homes, as seen from the perspectives of residents, care workers, relatives, and institution management simultaneously. Method: Five residents, four care workers, three relatives, and two care home managers participated in semi-structured interviews lasting 60 minutes maximum. An interpretative phenomenological analysis framework were utilised for the analysis. Results: It seems that there is a positive attitude towards the use of alcohol in care homes across the four groups of participants. They find that the use of alcohol is presently low among the residents. Importantly there appears to be an important symbolic value in the rituals surrounding alcohol which is upheld by all four groups. Conclusion: While experiences between the four groups seem to converge regarding the use of alcohol, there are still some important differences. Importantly, we suggest that these unique views be utilised in developing methods for handling alcohol use in care homes in the future.

scholarly journals Reasons for Turnover Intention among Direct Care Workers in Korea’s Long-Term Care Insurance

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 395
Author(s):  
Yongho Chon ◽  
Yun-Young Kim
Keyword(s):  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Direct Care Workers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Long Term Care Insurance

This study explored reasons for turnover intention among direct care workers under the Korean long-term care insurance (LTCI) system. The author conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 care workers. The study revealed four main themes underlying the intention of care workers to change or leave their jobs. Care workers struggled with demanding working conditions, and their salaries were low. Moreover, the relationships with their directors and supervisors was not good, since some care workers felt that their directors despised them or gave them inappropriate instructions, and their supervisors did not complete administrative work fairly. Lastly, some workers’ health conditions prevented them from carrying out their care work. The results have implications for working practices of care workers, prices of LTCI services, training of directors and supervisors, and coverage of occupational health and safety insurance for care workers.

scholarly journals Legacies of humanitarian neglect: long term experiences of children who returned from the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Parker ◽  
Cristin A. Fergus ◽  
Charlotte Brown ◽  
Dorothy Atim ◽  
James Ocitti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Lord's Resistance Army ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Lord’S Resistance Army ◽  
Reception Centre

Abstract Background Much has been written about the short-term challenges facing children returning ‘home’ from rebel fighting groups, but little is known about the longer term day to day realities of return. This article presents findings from the first long-term assessment of the social and economic challenges facing an officially registered group of children who passed through an internationally-financed reception centre after a period of time with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Methods Records from a reception centre were used to trace a random sample of individuals to their current location. Two hundred and thirty in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out and 40 follow-up interviews between 2013 and 2016. Interviews were informed by long-term ethnographic research in the region. These interviews were subsequently coded and analysed to describe the long-term day to day realities of return. Results At the time of interview, 90% of formerly abducted people returned ‘home’ six or more years ago, and 75% returned nine or more years ago. The majority have managed to access family land for farming, but concerns about what they may have done to survive whilst living with the LRA adversely affects their day-to-day lives. However, some important differences were noted: those men and women who spent less time with the LRA are more likely to live on ancestral land with close relatives; and they are more likely to report experiencing stigma and a spiritual affliction called ‘cen’. In contrast, those who spent the longest time with the LRA are less likely to report these problems, they are mainly living in urban locations and tend to manage slightly better. Children born of war are vulnerable to abuse, irrespective of current residence. Conclusions Research findings question the merits of post-conflict reintegration programmes emphasising immediate family reunifications, without follow-up monitoring, social protection, education and skills training. By overlooking the diverse experiences of those who lived and fought with the LRA, and failing to anticipate or respond to the long term socio-political and economic challenges facing children on their return, reception centre processes not only failed to foster social reintegration, but they also inadvertently exacerbated the vulnerability of returning children.

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