Assessing the Safety and Health Needs of Migrant Workers in Worker Dormitories: Lessons from a Public Health Crisis

HRMARS - Public health crisis management requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach, particularly in countries that rely heavily on migrant labour to support the key economic sectors. During large-scale health emergencies, the ability of existing systems to protect migrant workers becomes critical, as weaknesses in accommodation governance can pose serious risks to both workers’ safety and broader public health security. Worker dormitories, especially those who characterised by overcrowding and shared facilities, emerged as high-risk environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to identify the key safety and health needs of migrant workers residing in worker dormitories and to analyse the factors contributing to the spread of COVID-19 within these accommodation settings. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study draws on elite interviews with institutional stakeholders and focus group discussions with migrant workers across multiple economic sectors. The findings reveal that the outbreaks in worker dormitories are closely linked to inadequate living conditions, regulatory gaps, limited enforcement, and weak coordination among key stakeholders. These findings highlight the importance of integrated policy responses that align dormitory governance, labour regulation, and public health preparedness to strengthen the protection of mechanisms and improving crisis management in future public health emergencies.