ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) of migrant workers, non-standard employment, often located in small businesses. Based on an international comparative research project on the OHS of migrant workers, the chapter presents an overview of the universal themes and highlight key differences in the treatment of migrants within each jurisdiction. The health and safety of migrant workers is at the centre of a number of intersecting issues, including the increasing international movement of people, the often vulnerable position in which many migrant workers find themselves. And the lack of regulatory and social support mechanisms associated with documented and undocumented labour. International research shows that migrant workers are over-represented in precarious employment. The demographic information related to foreign-born workers in the US is also worth consideration as it shows that this group is widely dispersed geographically, with foreign workers constituting a significant portion of the population of each region within the US.
