Background: The unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disproportionately affected migrant workers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, exposing deep-rooted social inequalities. While some studies have examined the effects of COVID-19 on migrant workers, there remains a lack of consolidated evidence or systematic analyses of the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on their lives. This systematic review synthesizes available evidence on the multidimensional impact that COVID-19 had, particularly on non-domestic migrant workers.
Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ProQuest for studies examining how COVID-19 affected non-domestic migrant workers, with a specific focus on different domains of human security. Five reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and evaluated the quality of evidence using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Findings were synthesized using meta-aggregation and categorized using the human security framework.
Results: Out of 867 studies screened, 44 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. Overall, findings indicated that non-domestic migrant workers were systematically excluded from national healthcare planning and pandemic preparedness efforts, exacerbating their pre-existing vulnerabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and consequent containment measures applied by governments worsened barriers to healthcare and legal protection, amplified food and water insecurity, and further deepened economic precarity and discrimination of migrant workers. Social ties and informal community networks played a crucial role in mitigating some of the adverse effects of COVID-19 containment measures.
Conclusions: Findings emphasize the urgent need for inclusive systems and crisis response strategies that recognize, protect, and address the needs of migrant workers in future public health emergencies.
