Dissertation committee:
Σουρτζή Παναγιώτα, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής, ΕΚΠΑ
Καϊτελίδου Δάφνη, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΕΚΠΑ
Βελονάκης Εμμανουήλ, Ομότιμος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΕΚΠΑ
Καλοκαιρινού Αθηνά, Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΕΚΠΑ
Βελονάκη Βενετία-Σοφία, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΕΚΠΑ
Γαλάνης Πέτρος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΕΚΠΑ
Αποστολάρα Παρασκευή, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τμήμα Νοσηλευτικής ΠΑΔΑ
Summary:
Introduction: Migration is multi-dimensional and multi-layered. It is not only a modern phenomenon, but a dynamic process that is affected by the political, social and economic changes that are taking place around the world and is reflected in population movements. After researching the international literature, it emerged that there are no studies in Greece that investigate and compare the health and safety working conditions between immigrants and Greek workers. In addition, it was observed that insufficient or inappropriate protective equipment was provided, limited insurance coverage, as well as higher occupational accident rates among immigrants than native workers. As a consequence, this specific study aims to compare and highlight - in Greek area - any differentiations due to gender, race or ethnicity among others.
Purpose: To investigate the working conditions, as well as the differences between migrant workers and native workers, and in particular, the risks they face in their work environment.
Methodology: A secondary analysis of the data of the study "Investigation, recording and analysis of the inequalities of access of immigrants living in Greece to health services" (THALIS-MIS 377228) was carried out and then a comparison of the findings with the corresponding data from the Hellenic Statistical Service (EL. STAT .). Furthermore, the data of (THALIS-MIS 377228) were compared with the corresponding data from the Labor Inspection Body and the Electronic National Social Security Agency (e-EFKA). Subsequently, the sample of the present study was collected from Primary Health Care structures of the 2nd Ministry of Health. As long as they met the criteria that had been set from the beginning, adult Greeks and immigrant workers answered the questionnaire and then, they participated in an individual interview voluntarily, maintaining their anonymity. The analysis of the quantitative data was carried out with descriptive statistics and was done with IBM SPSS 21.0, while the corresponding qualitative data with the process of thematic analysis.
Results: The results of the Secondary analysis of the data of the study (THALIS-MIS 377228) with the corresponding data from ELSTAT, showed that occupational accidents among men and especially among immigrants are more common, as well as the professional groups that suffered more from health problems related with work, they were "Skilled artisans and practitioners of related professions", "Operators of industrial facilities, machinery and equipment and assembly" as well as "Unskilled workers, handymen and small trades".On the contrary, the lowest percentage of occurrence of health problems was found in "Professionals" and "Office workers" (4.3 and 4.2%), respectively. In the present study, the total number of questionnaires initially distributed was 564, of which 544 were completed (96.45% response rate). 80.9% of the participants were Greek (n=440) while immigrants were the 19.1% of the sample (n=104). The largest percentage came from Albania (51.9%), 8.7% from Bangladesh and Pakistan, 6.7% from Georgia, 5.8% from Bulgaria, 3.8% from Romania and from 1-2.9% from England, Saint Dominic, Egypt, Armenia, Afghanistan, UAE, Jordan, Nigeria, Ukraine and Poland. The average duration of migrants’ stay in Greece was 19 years. A higher percentage of full-time employment was found among natives (89%), compared to immigrants (67%) at a statistically significant level (p=0.000). Insurance coverage among Greek amounted to 98.4% compared to 87% for immigrants. A statistically significantly higher (p=0.004) percentage of occupational accidents was found among immigrants (27.9%) compared to Greek (15.2%). The construction industry, in which more immigrants work, was found to be responsible for more accidents. Also, a higher rate of relevance in terms of the subject of work was observed among Greek compared to immigrants, who are mainly employed in technical occupations or as unskilled workers. Regarding the interviews, 36 were conducted, of which 22 were Greeks and 14 immigrants. The average age of Greek was 43.5 years, with 68.1% women. and 95.2% have full insurance coverage. As far as the provided protective equipment at work, 14 answered positively, 7 negatively and 1 that it is not needed. In addition, although initially only 6 occupational accidents were reported during the interview, 5 more occurred, which were not reported by them to the insurance company. Regarding immigrants, their average age was 47.8 years, with 57.2% women and an average stay in Greece of 23.2 years. In particular, 9 immigrants were from Albania, 1 from Romania, 2 from Bulgaria, 1 from Georgia and 1 from Moldova. The evaluation of their ability in Greek language indicated in 1 excellent case, 3 very good, 6 good and 4 average. The insurance rate among immigrants was 57.1% and regarding whether they received protective equipment at their workplace, 8 answered positively, 5 negatively and 1 that it was not needed. The main reasons that prompted them to migrate in descending order were economic (50%), war conditions (35.7%) and fear (28.5%). Also, 64.2% of immigrants characterized their settlement conditions in Greece as difficult. In comparison, Greek were more likely to work full-time, receive more education upon taking up their duties, and be provided with more personal protective equipment than immigrants. Although only three occupational accidents - purely among Greeks - were reported during the interviews, with only one reported to the insurance body. However, they also mentioned other injuries while working, which they did not want to mention further.
Conclusions: According to the findings of the present study it appears that immigrants face more unfavorable working conditions compared to Greek. Further studies are deemed necessary in order to ensure additional knowledge about the working conditions of immigrants compared to those of indigenous.
