The well-being of newly regularized migrant workers

Determinants of their satisfaction with life as compared to undocumented migrant workers and regular local residents

Bibliographic Data

ID13063643
AuthorsClaudine Burton-Jeangros (0000-0003-2258-9728, University of Geneva, corresponding author), Aline Duvoisin (University of Geneva), Liala Consoli (0000-0001-8339-3767, University of Geneva), Julien Fakhoury (0000-0002-5465-5307, University of Geneva), Yves Jackson (0000-0001-5619-333X, University Hospital of Geneva)
Year2021
Volume9
Issue1
Pages42-42
Publication date2021-08-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueComparative Migration Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2214-594X • E-ISSN: 2214-8590
PublisherSpringer Nature (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1186/s40878-021-00244-2
PMID34722159
OpenAlexW3195934371
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited30

Subjective assessments of well-being are becoming routine indicators, considering that material resources are insufficient to capture people's satisfaction with life. Examining the unique situation of undocumented migrant workers, driven by aspirations for a better life but constrained by their limited rights in the country of destination, we assess their satisfaction with life and the factors that matter in their evaluations. Data were collected in Geneva (Switzerland), in a study comparing those who have just received a residency permit or about to obtaining it after submitting a regularization request ( n = 195) with those who were still undocumented and/or had not submitted a regularization request at the time of our study ( n = 231). In addition, comparisons were made with a sample of regular local residents ( n = 175). Data obtained through standardized questionnaires include a range of material and non-material determinants, some unique to migrants and others common to the three populations. Satisfaction with life is significantly lower among undocumented migrant workers while those who are regularized and regular local residents report similar levels of well-being. Social participation, self-reported health and discrimination are associated to satisfaction with life among undocumented migrant workers. Among those being regularized, having been longer in the country of destination is associated with lower well-being. Among regular local residents, the only significant factor for a better satisfaction with life is having a partner. Material determinants, while distributed in vastly different levels, do not influence satisfaction with life. Despite the high satisfaction expressed by those who have recently been regularized, policy intervention still have to pay attention to their persisting difficult socioeconomic circumstances amidst a context of overall affluence

Business · Demographic economics · Economic growth · Economics · Immigration · Life satisfaction · Migrant workers · Political science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Law · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Social Psychology

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