Dissertation defence: (Sociology): MSc (Public Health) Waseem Haider

The audience can participate in the defence by remote access.

Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:

Illness can weaken migrants’ foothold in working life

Finding a job is only the beginning of successful integration. Waseem Haider’s doctoral dissertation at the University of Turku examines what happens to migrants’ working lives when their health deteriorates. It finds lasting earnings losses after serious illness, with larger estimated losses among migrants than among the native population. Social benefits soften the financial impact, but compensate a smaller share of migrants’ losses.

The dissertation brings together three studies using nationwide records of hospital treatment, sickness benefits, disability pensions and earnings. The studies cover different populations and follow-up periods within 2005–2019. Together, they shift attention from finding employment to maintaining work and a livelihood when health problems arise.

Serious illness brings lasting earnings losses

The first study examined severe illnesses and injuries requiring at least two days in hospital. It estimated average annual earnings losses of close to €4,000 among migrants, compared with about €2,600 among native workers. These amounts, measured in 2019 euros, were equivalent to 13.5% and 7.4% of the groups’ earnings before the health event. The losses persisted for several years. When social benefits were included in income, estimated losses fell by around half for natives and one third for migrants. Migrant men experienced particularly large earnings losses following a serious health event.

Less recorded sickness absence does not necessarily mean better health

Migrants had lower recorded sickness absence than natives throughout 2005–2019 and across all diagnostic groups examined. However, occupational differences widened within the migrant population. Among migrant men, those who were unemployed stood out as a group particularly likely to receive sickness allowance because of mental health problems. The study used Kela records of longer periods when people were unable to work because of illness. It did not cover every short spell of sick leave. Lower recorded absence may reflect better initial health among some migrants, but the dissertation also discusses difficulties accessing healthcare and benefits, and pressure to continue working while ill. These are possible explanations as the register data cannot establish how much each contributes to the observed differences.

Averages conceal differences between migrant groups

Migrants had a lower overall risk of receiving a disability pension than natives. However, those from refugee-origin countries and the study’s “other” non-European origin group had higher risks. The refugee-origin category was based on countries of origin, not on confirmation that each person had arrived as a refugee. Longer residence in Finland was also associated with a higher disability pension risk. These findings show why migrants should not be treated as a single, uniform group. They also show why lower recorded sickness absence or disability pension receipt cannot, on its own, provide a complete picture of health-related difficulties in working life.

Supporting integration means supporting people when health deteriorates

The dissertation contributes by examining earnings, sickness absence and disability pensions together, rather than considering each outcome in isolation. To interpret the findings, Haider brings together three questions: Who faces health risks at work? What protects their employment and income when illness occurs? And can they access the healthcare, rehabilitation and financial support available to them? This approach highlights working conditions and access to support, rather than treating migrant background alone as an explanation. The dissertation argues that formal rights do not necessarily guarantee equal protection in practice.

Haider proposes improving working conditions in sectors where migrants are concentrated, reducing gaps in access to healthcare and adapting return-to-work support to better serve people in part-time, temporary and other insecure employment. He also calls for clearer multilingual guidance and for health and the ability to work to be considered alongside employment and earnings when assessing integration.

The core message is that successful integration involves more than entering employment. It also means being able to maintain work and a livelihood when health problems arise.