The study surveyed 317 migrant workers in the manufacturing sector. Source: Wikimedia/CC
In 2007, migrants represented approximately one sixth of Malaysia’s labour force, a rise of 9.4% from the previous year. Most of these are overworked low-to-medium skilled labourers receiving low pay, and are being used to fuel the country’s rapid economic growth. Foreign labour is in high demand in Malaysia, as local workers tend to avoid low-wage jobs with poor environmental safety measures.
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) – a wide range of injuries and disabilities that affect the body’s movement or its musculoskeletal system – are influenced by a variety of factors. These include the more obvious physical factors, such as carrying heavy loads. Psychosocial factors, such as stress and working night shifts, can also lead to MSDs through behavioural changes, such as altering posture to avoid discomfort, creating further risk for MSDs. Few studies have looked into the role of the physical environment of the workplace in relation to MSDs.
In a study published in the June issue of the Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, researchers from the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus surveyed 317 migrant workers in Malaysia’s manufacturing industry. The respondents were from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Nepal and Myanmar, with an average age of 28. On average, they worked 12-hour-long shifts per day.
Two thirds of the workers reported musculoskeletal pain that was either caused or made worse by work in the last 12 months. Interestingly, workers who said they were exposed to dust were almost six times more likely to report musculoskeletal pain than those who said they were not – in previous research, exposure to dust has been listed as a predisposing risk factor to MSDs. Also, those who expressed concerns about the reliability of their equipment were twice as likely to report pain. Similarly, those who said they were under pressure to meet work demands or had long or unsociable work hours were also significantly more likely to report musculoskeletal pain.
Among the psychosocial factors addressed in the study, pressure to meet work targets showed the highest correlation with MSDs, leading the researchers to recommend further examination of this relationship. They also recommend examining the roles of other psychosocial factors, such as organisational and safety culture and relationships at work, in musculoskeletal disorders. Due to the nature of the study, a clear causal relationship between work factors and musculoskeletal pain was not possible to establish. Future studies should look into this relationship, the researchers say.
For more information about this research, please contact:
Dr. Hazel Melanie Ramos
Department of Applied Psychology
University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
Jln Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +(603) 8924 8281; Mobile: +(6014) 260 2166
About Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH)
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities (JSSH) is published by Universiti Putra Malaysia in English and is open to authors around the world regardless of nationality. It is published four times a year in March, June, September and December. Other Pertanika series include Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science (JTAS), and Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology (JST).
JSSH aims to develop as a pioneer journal for the social sciences with a focus on emerging issues pertaining to the social and behavioural sciences as well as the humanities. Areas relevant to the scope of the journal include Social Sciences—Accounting, anthropology, Archaeology and history, Architecture and habitat, Consumer and family economics, Economics, Education, Finance, Geography, Law, Management studies, Media and communication studies, Political sciences and public policy, Population studies, Psychology, Sociology, Technology management, Tourism; Humanities—Arts and culture, Dance, Historical and civilisation studies, Language and Linguistics, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Religious studies, Sports.
The journal publishes original academic articles dealing with research on issues of worldwide relevance. The journals cater for scientists, professors, researchers, post-docs, scholars and students who wish to promote and communicate advances in the fields of Social Sciences & Humanities research.
Website: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/
The papers are available from the following link:
http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2023%20(2)%20Jun.%202015/04%20JSSH-1057-2013%20Rev3.pdf
For more information about the journal, contact:
The Chief Executive Editor (UPM Journals)
Head, Journal Division, UPM Press
Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (R&I)
IDEA Tower 2, UPM-MDTC Technology Centre
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 Serdang, Selangor
Malaysia.
Phone: +(603) 8947 1622 | +(6016) 217 4050
Email: [email protected]
Date of Release: 14 July 2015.
Acknowledgements
The Chief Executive Editor, UPM Journals
