In the interstice of health and economy: The discourse of bio-citizenship and the black economy among Filipino migrant domestic workers in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of Filipino migrant domestic workers in Belgium, examining the interplay between biological citizenship and black economy. Using snowball sampling, interviews were conducted with 27 migrant workers from October 2021 to August 2022. Belgium’s decision to provide health provisions and vaccine access to all residents—regardless of legal status—challenges traditional norms of healthcare access, which are often restricted by legal status, national boundaries and formal economies. This approach recognizes the biological vulnerabilities of every individual and may serve as a basis for further discussions on how the framework of bio-citizenship can be adapted to diverse contexts.

Keywords

Filipino migrant workers citizenship black economy pandemic sanitary measures

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