Louisiana Guestworker Health and Safety a Necessary Component of Health Equity: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author: McCallum, Leanne; Lackovic, Michelle; Whitcomb, Olivia; Katner, Adrienne & Harrington, Daniel

Abstract: Guestworkers are a critical labor component of many industries considered essential to U.S. infrastructure. Despite their essential role in the U.S. labor force, guestworkers are vulnerable to exploitative labor practices. The COVID-19 pandemic compounded guestworkers’ vulnerability to include a lack of public health protective measures in addition to longstanding labor abuses. The pandemic has created greater public health awareness about structural determinants of health inequities, such as unsafe and exploitative working conditions. As public health increases its focus on social and structural determinants of health, it can contribute to improved labor conditions for guestworkers. This article highlights guestworkers’ experiences in Louisiana's crawfish industry to demonstrate the marginalized role of guestworker labor in a major Louisiana industry. This article also examines local public health approaches that can bring attention and resources to labor issues.

Keywords: guestworkers, labor rights, public health, COVID-19, crawfish