Impacts of COVID-19 on forestry migrant workers in the Southern United States

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of life and affected numerous sectors in the United States (US), including the forestry sector, which heavily depends on temporary migrant guest workers to perform roles that are difficult to fill with local labor. We conducted a qualitative case study focusing on a single labor contracting company that supplies workers for forestry projects in the US South to examine how the pandemic affected migrant workers.

The study involved a total of 25 interviews with participants, including migrant workers employed by the company, their employer, and other relevant stakeholders. Drawing on existing literature, a theoretical perspective was identified to explore the vulnerable nature of migrant workers and analyze the pandemic's effects on them.

While social isolation, a common characteristic of migrant work, helped reduce exposure to COVID-19, shared living and travel arrangements hindered effective isolation within crews. Additionally, the absence of health insurance compounded their vulnerability. Despite minimal disruptions to working hours, which allowed salaries and remittances to remain stable, temporary travel restrictions and visa delays caused delays in the arrival of H2B workers. The pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, such as increased disposability and dependence on employers. However, some workers displayed agency by leaving when their earning potential was at risk, challenging assumptions about passive victimhood.

In response to these findings, future policies should prioritize improving living and working conditions, ensuring access to healthcare, streamlining visa processes, and strengthening worker protections to better prepare for disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic.