"The COVID 19 pandemic worsened my living and working conditions". A qualitative research study of female Brazilian immigrants in Oporto.

Immigrant women face a double vulnerability, being a woman and an immigrant, a situation that hinders their entry into the labor market and worsens their working conditions and occupational health with respect to the native population. The objective of these women is to seek employment or educational opportunities and improving their own lives and those of their families. All this is affected by the axes of gender, ethnicity, migration and socioeconomic level, as well as being confronted with the patriarchal structure of exercise of power and domination. These situations of inequality have aggravated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, worsening working conditions and their occupational health. This study aims to explore the working conditions of the female Brazilian immigrant population living in Porto (Portugal) and how these conditions may affect their health. Qualitative research through semi-structured interviews conducted during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was used. The results show of them had work overload, manifesting anxiety and stress. Physical affectations related to poor work ergonomics and the lack of occupational health examinations in working immigrant women is highlighted. The importance of strengthening migration policies related to occupational health is highlighted. In pandemic situations, the vulnerability of these women increases, worsening their overall health.