Factors Influencing the Employment of Illegal Foreign Labourers in the Construction Industry: A Review

The construction sectors in numerous regions and countries heavily rely on foreign labour. The employment of illegal foreign labour within the construction industry, often encompassing individuals with illegal or undocumented immigration status, has garnered attention due to its implications for labour markets, economic dynamics and regulatory frameworks. This research aimed to comprehensively review the factors of illegal foreign labour employment by contractors within the construction industry. To uncover the core factors that influenced the employment of illegal foreign labour within the construction sector, the methodology involved an in-depth analysis of existing literature. The in-depth analysis encompassed the identification and extraction of factors and corresponding subfactors from diverse research sources. Then, the identified factors were grouped into five clusters, namely: (1) monetary and economic perspectives, (2) project and industrial characteristics, (3) social and cultural perspectives, (4) vulnerability and exploitation and (5) regulatory and enforcement. This research unveiled a significant gap in comprehensive investigations pertaining to the actual prevalence of employment involving illegal foreign labour, highlighting the need for further insightful exploration in this domain. By delving into these influential factors, this study not only enhances the understanding of the employment of illegal foreign labour in the construction industry but also provides a foundation for potential policy change and industry practices aimed at addressing this intricate issue.