184 Migrant workforce: needs, conditions, public health challenges and education

Abstract WKS 18: Migrant workforce: needs, conditions, public health challenges and education, B309 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:45 - 15:45 Background and Objectives Europe has an ageing population and migrant labour is likely to be critical in balancing the steep decline in the number of working age individuals. At present there is no agreed EU-level policy on how to effectively, smoothly and safely integrate these migrants into the European workforce. Key issue of the integration of migrant workforce is assuring quality and culturally competent health care, namely through inclusion of migration health aspects into occupational, public and primary health care training for professionals in receiving countries. Institutions represented in the WS panel wish to establishment a Task Force on migrant workforce (MWFTF) occupational health training Workshop Plan This workshop will take a round-table format to allow free discussion between participants. Workshop members will plan the process to undertake a scoping review of available data on occupation related health conditions experienced by migrants and analyse whether these aspects are already incorporated into the current occupational health professionals’ training. Last for discussion will be the plan for UPMS, NOVA NSPH and ARU to launch and test a migrant workforce focused occupational health training package (MWFOHT) and share results with the task force members’ home institutions, EUPHA, and OSHA, to support further work. As an expected follow up of the WS, a model of MWFOHT will be developed and tested. The model will be shared within the framework of the Task Force institutions with the intent of improving professional education pertaining to successful integration of the migrant workforce into the European labour market. Main Messages Europe suffers from a significant workforce shortage of national workers. It is essential that there is a smooth, effective, and safe integration of a migrant workforce. Migrant workforce integration requires updated education for occupational health professionals aligned to WHO and ECDC guidelines.