Abstract:Background The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected migrant workers in the 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 synthesises 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. Conclusion 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. Keywords Migrant workers, COVID-19, human security, ASEAN, health systems Acknowledgements This research was supported by the Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (2023), Chulalongkorn University (Sys_66_005_6000_001). Footnote The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Statement Ethics approval was obtained from The Research Ethics Review Committee at Chulalongkorn University (Project Number 660345 and COA No. 361/66).
Keywords: Migration and Health, Migrant workers, COVID-19, human security, ASEAN, health systems
