Call for Chapters: Challenges and Opportunities of International Expatriate Blue Collar Workers

Editors

Kakul Agha, Skyline University College, United Arab Emirates
ANEES JANEE ALI, Univresiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025
Full Chapters Due: August 17, 2025
Submission Date: August 17, 2025

Introduction

In today’s globalized economy, blue-collar expatriate workers play a crucial role in industries such as construction, manufacturing, shipping, and domestic labor. These workers frequently migrate across borders in search of better employment opportunities, yet they often face significant challenges, including precarious working conditions, legal uncertainties, social isolation, and cultural barriers. Despite their critical contributions to host economies, discussions on expatriate workers in academic literature have largely focused on highly skilled professionals, leaving blue-collar expatriates underexplored. This edited volume seeks to bridge that gap by bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives on the experiences, challenges, and opportunities faced by international blue-collar expatriates. We invite scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute original research, case studies, and policy analyses that shed light on labor rights, economic integration, migration policies, workplace dynamics, and the social impacts of expatriation on blue-collar workers. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: - The socio-economic and legal challenges faced by blue-collar expatriates - Workplace safety, exploitation, and labor rights - Cultural adaptation and integration in host communities - The role of multinational companies and recruitment agencies - The impact of remittances on home countries and families - Policy responses and best practices for improving working conditions

Objective

The edited volume *Challenges and Opportunities of International Expatriate Blue-Collar Workers* aims to provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination of the experiences, struggles, and prospects of blue-collar expatriates in the global workforce. The book seeks to: 1. Highlight Key Challenges: Analyze the socio-economic, legal, and cultural difficulties faced by blue-collar expatriate workers, including issues related to labor rights, workplace exploitation, social integration, and job security. 2. Explore Economic and Policy Implications: Investigate the role of multinational corporations, recruitment agencies, and government policies in shaping the working conditions and mobility of expatriate laborers. 3.Assess Workplace and Social Dynamics: Examine how expatriate blue-collar workers navigate workplace relationships, cultural adaptation, discrimination, and community integration in host countries. 4. Examine the Role of Remittances and Family Impact: Explore how blue-collar expatriates contribute to their home economies through remittances and how their migration affects families, communities, and social structures. 5. Identify Best Practices and Solutions: Provide recommendations for improving working conditions, labor policies, and support systems to enhance the well-being of blue-collar expatriates. 6. Promote Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Encourage contributions from various disciplines, including sociology, economics, migration studies, labor law, and human resource management, to foster a holistic understanding of the topic. 7. Contribute to Policy and Academic Debates: Offer new insights to academics, policymakers, and industry leaders, promoting informed discussions on labor migration, expatriate rights, and workforce management. This book seeks to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and professionals interested in the evolving landscape of international blue-collar expatriate labor.

Target Audience

The edited volume *Challenges and Opportunities of International Expatriate Blue-Collar Workers* is designed to appeal to a diverse audience, including academics, policymakers, industry professionals, and practitioners involved in labor migration and workforce management. The book will be particularly valuable for Scholars in fields such as migration studies, labor economics, sociology, anthropology, human resource management, industrial relations, and international business who seek to expand research on blue-collar expatriates; Policymakers and Government Officials - Decision-makers working in labor ministries, immigration departments, and international labor organizations who develop policies and regulations affecting expatriate workers. This book is for Industry Professionals and Employers – Business leaders, multinational corporations, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) that employ expatriate blue-collar workers and aim to improve workplace conditions, recruitment, and management strategies. It is valuable for Trade Unions and Labor Rights Organizations – Advocates for labor rights, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and workers’ unions seeking data and analysis to support policies and protections for expatriate workers and International Organizations and Development Agencies – Institutions such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations (UN) that focus on labor migration, workers’ rights, and economic development. Last but not the least Students and Educators – University students and lecturers in migration studies, labor law, economics, and related fields who wish to explore case studies and theoretical perspectives on expatriate labor. Additionally, Recruitment Agencies and HR Professionals – Organizations involved in hiring and managing expatriate blue-collar workers, providing insights into ethical recruitment, fair employment practices, and workforce integration. By engaging these diverse stakeholders, this book aims to contribute to academic discourse, policy discussions, and industry best practices related to the challenges and opportunities faced by international expatriate blue-collar workers.

Recommended Topics

The edited volume *Challenges and Opportunities of International Expatriate Blue-Collar Workers* welcomes contributions from a variety of disciplines, including sociology, economics, labor studies, migration studies, human resource management, and public policy. We invite original research, case studies, and policy analyses on the following topics: 1. Labor Market Dynamics and Economic Contributions - The role of expatriate blue-collar workers in global supply chains and industrial sectors - Economic impacts of expatriate labor on host and home countries - Wage disparities and employment conditions across different regions and industries - The effects of automation and technology on expatriate blue-collar labor demand 2. Legal and Policy Frameworks - National and international labor laws affecting expatriate workers - Visa policies, work permits, and legal protections for blue-collar expatriates - The role of labor unions and advocacy groups in protecting migrant workers - Ethical recruitment practices and regulatory challenges 3. Workplace Experiences and Social Integration - Challenges related to workplace discrimination, safety, and working conditions - Social and cultural integration of expatriate blue-collar workers in host communities - Mental health and well-being of expatriate laborers in high-risk environments - Employer responsibilities and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives 4. Recruitment, Contracts, and Working Conditions - Recruitment processes and the role of intermediaries (e.g., agencies, brokers) - Contractual conditions and issues related to contract enforcement and exploitation - Labor rights violations, forced labor, and human trafficking concerns - Strategies to improve fair employment practices and worker protections 5. Financial Aspects and the Impact on Home Countries - The significance of remittances for families and national economies - Financial literacy and savings behavior of expatriate workers - The impact of labor migration on family dynamics and social structures in home countries - Circular migration and return migration experiences of blue-collar expatriates 6. Gender, Identity, and Intersectionality - The experiences of women expatriate workers in traditionally male-dominated industries - The intersection of race, ethnicity, and class in the expatriate labor experience - LGBTQ+ expatriate workers: unique challenges and workplace inclusion - Religious and cultural identity in expatriate labor communities 7. The Future of Blue-Collar Expatriate Work - Emerging trends in labor migration and expatriation policies - The impact of climate change and geopolitical factors on blue-collar expatriate mobility - The role of digitalization and remote work in shaping expatriate labor markets - Best practices for sustainable and ethical expatriate employment We encourage interdisciplinary approaches and empirical studies that provide fresh insights into these topics. Authors are welcome to propose additional relevant themes that align with the book’s overall scope.

Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before June 1, 2025, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by June 17, 2025 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters of a minimum of 10,000 words (word count includes references and related readings) are expected to be submitted by August 17, 2025, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-anonymized review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Challenges and Opportunities of International Expatriate Blue Collar Workers. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-anonymized peer review editorial process.

All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery^® online submission manager.

Publisher

This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global Scientific Publishing (formerly Idea Group Inc.), an international academic publisher of the "Information Science Reference" (formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science Reference" imprints. IGI Global Scientific Publishing specializes in publishing reference books, scholarly journals, and electronic databases featuring academic research on a variety of innovative topic areas including, but not limited to, education, social science, medicine and healthcare, business and management, information science and technology, engineering, public administration, library and information science, media and communication studies, and environmental science. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit https://www.igi-global.com. This publication is anticipated to be released in 2026.

Important Dates

June 1, 2025: Proposal Submission Deadline
June 17, 2025: Notification of Acceptance
August 17, 2025: Full Chapter Submission
October 19, 2025: Review Results Returned
November 30, 2025: Final Acceptance Notification
December 14, 2025: Final Chapter Submission

Inquiries

Kakul Agha
Skyline University College
kakul_p@yahoo.com

Anees Janee Ali
Universiti Sains Malaysia
aneesali@usm.my

Classifications

Business and Management

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