Hiring Migrant Labourers During Global Pandemic

Few sectors have been as severely disrupted by the ongoing spread of COVID-19 as the global migrant labour industry. Vaccination requirements, travel restrictions, quarantine measures, and other developments have made life more difficult than ever for millions of migrant labourers around the globe. Employers have gained new responsibilities in the midst of this public health crisis, too. Successfully managing ethical issues in the recruitment process is more difficult than ever before.

Companies offering employment to migrant labourers must ensure the health and well-being of workers isn’t left by the wayside. Figuring out the rules and requirements of hiring during a pandemic is the first step – enlisting the help of technological platforms like Joblio is the second.

Dealing with labour shortages

Employers around the globe are grappling with labour shortages that frustrate productivity and lead to an inability to meet consumer demand. Reports from the NFU indicate that the agricultural sector in particular is suffering from a lack of qualified workers. This is disastrous for long-term growth; “migrant labourers play a pivotal role in the development of the global economy,” global relocation expert Jon Purizhansky notes.

Private companies must understand that the rules for importing labourers from abroad have changed and will continue to evolve in the wake of COVID-19’s spread. In nations such as the UK, foreign nationals are subject to national restrictions that can impede movement. Labourers who are seeking to journey to the UK before July 19th may need to take a COVID-19 test before and after arrival. Those who are not vaccinated will be required to quarantine upon arrival, though fully vaccinated workers can eschew quarantine when arriving or leaving the country.

In Germany, entry restrictions are in place for those who aren’t vaccinated. Travellers from the EU or other select partners, like Canada or the United States, may also enter without restriction. Host countries will always have specific regulations which govern who can and can’t enter; employers should carefully consult government resources before hiring to ensure they don’t run afoul of COVID-19 restrictions. Highly skilled workers who fulfill economically vital roles are often allowed to travel despite COVID-19, yet restrictions vary from state to state.

Maximizing success when crossing borders 

Employers seeking to hire migrant labourers based in another country should take the following steps to ensure that borders are successfully and legally crossed:

  • Ensure that travellers have access to COVID-19 testing before and after arrival 
  • Ensure that travellers are fully vaccinated and have the documents to prove it 
  • Ensure that other legal documents – e.g. a work visa – are in order before arrival

While different countries are governed by various COVID-19 regulations, virtually all of them will be easier to access for migrants with access to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Employers should also guarantee that every migrant labourer is familiar with proper medical guidelines for avoiding the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing a mask and avoiding poorly ventilated areas.

Technology platforms like Joblio ensure that all workers are properly taken care of before they arrive in their destination countries. CEO Jon Purizhansky notes that “all applicants will undergo a medical examination 48 hours prior to arrival, including COVID-19 tests,” when using Joblio. By prioritizing worker well being, Joblio facilitates a smooth transition from origin countries to destination countries where jobs are waiting for migrants eager to work. Purizhansky elaborates that “Joblio is committed to ensuring the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work environment.”

Joblio’s platform also guarantees that workers aren’t exploited once they’ve finally arrived in their new homes. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a serious spike of labour abuse allegations in many parts of the world. Joblio circumvents labour abuse by directly connecting workers to employers before the job begins to ensure they negotiate on equal terms. The platform also confirms that local and international humanitarian standards are being upheld throughout the hiring process.

Managing the fallout from COVID-19

Migrant labourers will suffer from the economic impact of COVID-19 for years to come. One report from the Asian Development Bank claimed economic remittances from labourers dropped anywhere from $31 to $54 billion in 2020 alone. Employers must be ready to offer fair wages, safe working conditions, and a transparent negotiation process to these labourers as they bounce back from the pandemic. With the help of platforms like Joblio, they can streamline the process whereby medical and legal documents are taken care of well before employment begins.

Stay up to date on policy briefs provided by the International Labour Organization and enlist the help of technological platforms like Joblio to ensure a smooth hiring process during and after the pandemic.

Originally Posted: https://joblio.co/en/blog/hiring-migrant-labourers-during-a-global-pandemic/

Maintaining Data Quality and Ethics When Hiring Migrant Labourers

Major tech companies have consistently misused the personal data of their users over the past few years. In the global migrant labour industry, many companies and governments have insufficiently guarded migrant data, allowing it to be leaked to the public or stolen by hackers. When it comes to hiring migrant labourers, ethical data management practices must become a priority.

Companies that benefit from migrant labourers need strong humanist principles when it comes to data quality and management. Here’s how platforms like Joblio are ensuring migrant data isn’t being misused around the world.

Migrant data has already been leaked

Hundreds of thousands of migrants have already suffered from inappropriate data management practices that exposed their personal information to the world. According to a report from the Guardian, the personal details of at least 774,000 migrants and aspiring migrants to Australia was made publicly accessible following a data breach. Governments and the private companies they contract with have consistently illustrated that they’re not treating migrant data privacy issues seriously.

In addition to harmful data breaches, the global migrant labour industry is also plagued by harmful practices like extensive surveillance. Human Rights Watch has reported that Russian state authorities are considering tracking migrant workers with new technology. Governments with a demonstrable history of ignoring human rights may soon be closely monitoring the migrant labourers who make critical contributions to the global economy. This monitoring can easily turn into abuse if sensitive data isn’t closely safeguarded.

Technology is often a positive force in the global migrant labour industry, allowing employees and employers to communicate directly with one another. In certain parts of the world, however, migrant labourers may soon become the victims of unwarranted and excessive surveillance that collects personal data which is improperly stored. Software that intrudes and humiliates migrant labourers must be avoided at all costs if an ethical future for the industry is to be realized.

Reliable statistics don’t need to be intrusive

Ethical companies with strong humanist principles are needed to ensure that reliable statistics for the global migrant labour industry can be collected legitimately. Keeping track of where migrant labourers are heading doesn’t need to be an intrusive or humiliating process. By ensuring transparency when it comes to how data is collected and used, private companies can ensure that migrant labourers don’t become the latest victims of inadvertent data breaches or hacks.

Platforms like Joblio are leading by example with transparent and easily accessible privacy policies that inform users what data is being collected when they make use of modern apps and digital services. Reminding migrants of their rights is an essential part of maintaining ethics when it comes to data collection, management, and storage.

Organizations such as the Global Migration Group have provided clear guidelines for collecting disaggregated data on human rights without violating the personal privacy of individual migrants. Once this data has been collected and analyzed, it must be meticulously stored with user privacy taking on the utmost importance. In addition to facing social opprobrium, companies which fail to ethically manage migrant data could run afoul of local or international privacy rules and pay a steep price for their negligence.

Jon Purizhansky, CEO of Joblio, believes that “businesses must take responsibility for their data management practices.” Unethical behavior from corporate leaders and unclear corporate guidelines on data management will lead to the abuse of migrant labourer information. User profiles and background checks must be carefully safeguarded from hackers to ensure a smooth and ethical migration process.

Joblio ensures ethical hiring is easy

Platforms like Joblio are the best way to ensure global migrant labourers are hired quickly, easily, and ethically. Applicant biometrical data is carefully managed to ensure personal information is never inappropriately leaked. By circumventing harmful middlemen who abuse migrants during the recruitment process, Joblio also ensures migrant data doesn’t fall into the hands of recruiters who don’t care about the privacy of migrants.

“Thanks to our clear privacy policy, Joblio ensures no user is ever left in the dark when it comes to their personal information,” says CEO Jon Purizhansky. By working hand in hand with both employers and employees, Joblio ensures important data on global migration patterns can be collected in a sustainable, transparent, and ethical fashion.

For too long, major tech companies have abused the trust of their users while poorly safeguarding privacy. These days, platforms like Joblio are reinventing the global migrant labour industry without sacrificing ethics in data collection and management.

Originally Posted: https://joblio.co/en/blog/maintaining-data-quality-and-ethics-when-hiring-migrant-labourers/