Migration and Precarious Work

This project examines the relation between migration and “precarious work”, locating this both within “trafficking” debates and the broader context of low wage labour and groups that are marginalised in labour markets. It critiques the “trafficking” paradigm as limiting the analysis of the relation between migration and low/no waged, low status work and is concerned to centralise the state and immigration controls in the analysis of precarity. Building on work and ideas developed through a number of previous COMPAS projects, Bridget Anderson is currently working on a number of activities within this subject area.

Main link person - Bridget Anderson, Senior Researcher- Link to Biography

Outputs include:

• Anderson, B., Forthcoming, “Exploitation and migrant labour in Kazakhstan” (working title) report to ODHIR office of OSCE
• Anderson, B., Forthcoming, “No Borders: a practical response to state controls on people’s migration, Refuge, with Nandita Sharma and Cynthia Wright (eds.) (December 2009)
• Anderson, B., Forthcoming 2008, “Sex, slaves and citizens: the anti-politics of trafficking”, Soundings, (Autumn)
• Anderson, B., 2008, Annual Conference 08 paper, 'Illegal immigrant”: victim or villain? -Download summary paper– Click here for link
• Anderson, B., 2008, Think-piece on 'Foreigners: victims or villains?- a political debate' to the Open Democracy. This article forms part of MigrantVoice on refuge a special project celebrating UK Refugee Week 2008 [external links]
• Anderson, B., 2008, Review of “The Dirty Work of Neoliberalism” The Geographical Journal
• Anderson, B., 2008, “Sex, Slaves and Stereotypes” a review essay, Global Networks, 8(3)
• Anderson, B., 2008, “Migrants and Work Related Rights” Ethics and International Affairs, 22(2)
• Anderson, B., 2008, 'Migrant workers and vulnerable employment: an analysis of existing data. Report written by Hiranthi Jayaweera and Bridget Anderson, for TUC Commission on Vulnerable Employment is now published.
• Anderson, B., 2007, Battles in Time: the Relation between Global and Labour Mobilities, Bridget Anderson WP-07-55

Previous Linked Projects:

• 'Forced labour and immigration': Working with the Trades Union Congress, individual unions, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and other NGOs and agencies, the study examines cases of forced labour and super exploitation of migrant labour within their industry context. Click here for further detail on the report and to download. Click here for a project findings sheet (.pdf).
• Markets for migrant sex and domestic work: Paid domestic work in private households and commercial sex are both sectors in which many migrant women are found. The two are often are often linked, but continuities and discontinuities between them have not been subject to systematic empirical or theoretical attention. Funded by ESRC response-mode project funding, Julia O’Connell-Davidson (Notthingham University) and Bridget Anderson ran this study between July 2002 – July 2006
• Outputs include: Pilot research published by IOM and Save the Children Sweden, ‘IOMpressrelease' (.pdf) and publication. Response to “Tackling Human Trafficking – Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan”. Click here to download (.pdf). Project Findings (.pdf). Link to ESRC website for details on all research investments.
• Changing status, changing lives? The socio-economic impact of EU accession on low wage migrant labour in the UK: This project studied the consequences of granting, on 1st May 2004, most of the economic and social rights of an EU national to accession state nationals who are already working in the UK with regular or irregular status. The research methodology allowed for comparison between nationals from accession countries and those working in the UK whose countries of origin remain outside of the enlarged EU. The analysis focussed on the short and long term impacts of EU accession on: (i) accession state nationals already in the UK; (ii) current employers of accession state nationals; and (iii) the migrant worker recruitment industry. Bridget Anderson, Sarah Spencer, Martin Ruhs (all COMPAS); Ben Rogaly (Sussex University) ran this study between Jan 2004 and May 2008, funded by the ESRC COMPAS core funds and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Click here to link to the project webpages.
• Filipinos and Care Work in the United Kingdom: This project examined the living and working conditions of Filipino migrant workers who provide care in three sites: NHS hospitals, care homes, and private households. These workers may be professionals or informally skilled. Bridget Anderson and Lourdes Gordolan explored the impact of site of employment on living and working experiences in the UK betweeen October 2004 – Summer 2007. Click here to link to the project webpages, with access to briefings, newsletters and other outputs.
• Polish and Lithuanian Workers: Opportunities and Challenges for Trades Unions: This research project, run by Bridget Anderson between 2005-6, aimed to explore the kinds of difficulties experienced by Polish and Lithuanian workers in the labour market, and their potential for joining trades unions. More specifically it addresses:Who is a member of/wants to join a trades union and why? What are the obstacles to joining a trades union? Where are prospective union members working?and What are the kinds of difficulties that Polish and Lithuanian workers face in their employment relations and conditions? Outputs include: COMPAS Research Briefing - Click here to download .pdf. Click here for final report for TUC.