Between home and host: economic migrants’ perceptions of decent work

This dissertation investigates the Decent Work (DW) experiences of economic migrant workers in blue-collar roles, examining the challenges they face, how they interpret these challenges, and the resources that support their pursuit of a decent life and work. Framed by three interconnected studies, this research deepens our understanding of migrant workers’ experiences and contribute to the field of Work and Organizational Psychology. The first exploratory study examines the DW perceptions of migrant workers (N=137), addressing key dimensions such as Fundamental Principles and Values, and Health and Safety. Grounded in the Dual Frame of Reference theory and a Life-Course perspective, this study uses cluster analysis identifying disparities in work and life perceptions before and after migration and examines whether these differences shape migrants' perceptions of DW in the host country. The second study, grounded in Conservation of Resources theory, shifts focus to a specific organizational context by investigating the differential effects of DW on turnover intentions among migrant (N=144) and native (N=242) subgroups working in similar roles within the same company. Through a series of moderation analyses, this study highlights how migrant workers manage available resources (e.g., social connectedness) differently from their native coworkers, providing insight into the unique dynamics of resource gain and loss within the migrant workforce. The third study takes an in-depth qualitative, multi-actor approach, using interviews conducted with 31 respondents to understand how migrants and key host society actors perceive migrant working conditions in the Italian employment ecosystem. Drawing on Katz's conceptual framework of agency as resilience, reworking, and resistance, this study also examines migrants' agentic responses to precarious working conditions. Collectively, these studies offer a comprehensive view of the DW experiences of economic migrants, emphasizing the importance of tailored social support and intervention within the employment ecosystem to enhance well-being, integration, and retention among migrant workers.