Safe and Sound: Exploring Perceptions of Safety by and about Asian Foreign Workers in Croatia

• In Event: Identity, Vulnerability, and Resistance

Abstract

Since joining the European Union in 2013, Croatia has faced labor shortages due to emigration, particularly in the construction, hospitality, and tourism industries. To fill these gaps, Croatian companies have increasingly employed Asian workers. The number of work permits issued to these workers has surged, with over 50,000 granted in the first half of 2024. It is estimated that by 2030 foreign workers in Croatia could number up to half a million, significantly impacting a country of 3.8 million people. Despite this, we know little about their experiences and perceptions related to safety and how those compare to the native-born population. The Safe and Sound project is driven by three main objectives: investigating safety-related experiences, evaluating interactions with Croatian criminal justice institutions, and identifying resources that foreign workers need to feel secure. We examine various forms of victimization, both in the workplace and within the community. Data collection is conducted through comprehensive surveys, with recruitment facilitated by partnerships with community organizations, employers, worker recruitment agencies, and the police. Our analysis will not only contrast the experiences and perceptions of Asian and Croatian workers but also provide a detailed comparison of workers from Nepal, India, and the Philippines, the three most represented countries in Croatia’s labor market. We seek to use the results from the study to inform public policy and guide initiatives to better protect foreign workers and enhance their integration into Croatian society.

Authors

• Sanja Kutnjak Ivković, Michigan State University

• Valerio Baćak, School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University

• Irena Cajner Mraović, University of Zagreb

• Marica Marinović Golubić, University of Zagreb

• Ivan Perkov, University of Zagreb

• Krunoslav Borovec, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia