旅居越南的外派工作者之工作狀況與健康照顧需求：訪談研究

Abstract

研究背景與目的：隨著大量投資和多方合作的進行，臺灣事業單位員工派至東南亞國家工作的人數日益增加。外派工作者所處的工作環境、社會文化和生活狀況與臺灣有很大差異，可能對工作者身心健康帶來影響，但有關外派工作者工作狀況與健康照顧需求的研究不多。 研究方法：本研究以半結構式質性訪談進行資料收集，主題包括外派工作屬性、企業管理方式、身心健康狀況、健康照顧需求與醫療服務利用情形。受訪者選取自研究團隊於2023年進行的外派工作者問卷調查，其中願意接受訪談的受訪者。納入訪談的條件為目前居住或曾居住於越南至少六個月以上，且自訴曾在越南因工作受傷或生病之工作者。本研究於2024年8月至9月期間進行，共計訪談12位，分別為女性8位男性4位，年齡介於30至60歲，其中有7位擔任管理職。 研究結果：本研究受訪者表示，外派工作帶來一定程度的心理困擾，並直接或間接影響其身體健康。影響外派工作者身心健康的因素包括以下四類型：第一為外派工作者工作型態，包括高工作天數與長工時、跨文化管理障礙、威權式的職場管理文化衍生的社會人際壓力；第二為外派工作者於越南的生活環境，大多數受訪者居住於雇主提供或管理的宿舍，而住宿與工作區域過於緊密、飲食安全與健康缺乏管理、硬體設施提供不完善；第三則與企業組織未在工作、生活及健康照顧上提供充分支持有關；最後則與當地的醫療資源服務品質有關，受訪者對越南醫療環境並不認同，當有醫療照顧需求時大多選擇返回臺灣治療。 結論：本研究發現，旅居越南的外派工作者之身心理健康受到工作本身、生活環境、企業組織作為，以及醫療照顧資源四大因素的影響。本研究對於如何改善外派工作者的工作、生活與健康照顧需求提出建議，期望能有助於外派工作者的身心健康與工作永續。

Background and Objectives: As investment and collaboration efforts expand, the number of Taiwanese employees assigned to work in Southeast Asian countries continues to rise. The work environment, sociocultural context, and living conditions in these countries differ significantly from those in Taiwan, potentially impacting the physical and mental health of expatriate employees. However, there is limited research on the working conditions and healthcare needs of these expatriates. Methods: This study employed semi-structured qualitative interviews for data collection, focusing on topics such as expatriate work characteristics, corporate management practices, physical and mental health status, healthcare needs, and utilization of medical services. The interviewees were selected from participants in a 2023 survey of expatriate workers conducted by the research team, specifically those who expressed willingness to participate in the interviews. Inclusion criteria required that the interviewees currently reside or have resided in Vietnam for at least six months and self-reported experiencing work-related injuries or illnesses in Vietnam. The interviews were conducted between August and September 2024, involving a total of 12 participants: 8 females and 4 males, aged 30 to 60 years, of whom 7 held managerial positions. Results: The study participants reported that expatriate work caused a certain level of psychological distress, which directly or indirectly affected their physical health. The factors influencing the physical and mental health of expatriate workers include four main aspects. First, the work characteristics of expatriates, such as extended workdays, long working hours, cross-cultural management challenges, and social pressures arising from the authoritarian workplace management culture, played a significant role. Second, the living environment in Vietnam also impacted their well-being, as most participants resided in dormitories provided or managed by their employers. Many noted that the close proximity between living and working areas, the lack of proper management of food safety and health, and the inadequate provision of facilities contributed to their stress. Third, the lack of sufficient organizational support, where companies failed to provide adequate assistance in areas such as work, daily life, and healthcare, further exacerbated their challenges. Finally, dissatisfaction with the quality of local medical resources and services was prevalent among the participants, with most expressing a preference to return to Taiwan for treatment when in need of medical care. Conclusion: This study found that the physical and mental health of expatriate workers living in Vietnam is influenced by four key factors: the nature of the work itself, the living environment, the actions of the employing organization, and the availability of healthcare resources. Based on these findings, the study provides recommendations for improving the work, living conditions, and healthcare needs of expatriate workers, with the aim of promoting their overall well-being and supporting the sustainability of their work.