Impact of dispositional attributes on safety attitudes among migrant construction workers from developing countries: case study of migrant Bangladeshis in Singapore

Florence Y.Y. Ling and Gwyneth Tan

Chapter 27 in Research Companion to Advances in the Construction Industry in the Global South, 2026, pp 654-671 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter explores the link between the dispositional attributes of migrant construction workers from developing countries and their safety attitudes in urban settings. The construction industry's reliance on migrant workers is driven by the demand for flexible and skilled labour. South Asia is a significant source of workers for construction industries in urbanised countries. A survey of Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore reveals a notably positive safety attitude, emphasising the importance of working safely, regardless of supervision or tightness of schedules. Key dispositional traits of Bangladeshi workers include self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control, and neuroticism. Notably, attributes related to self-esteem, such as familial love and religious devotion, correlate strongly with safety attitudes. The chapter suggests that hiring Bangladeshi workers, who exhibit a positive safety attitude, can enhance workplace safety in construction projects within urban environments. It informs managers about the benefits of considering specific dispositional traits in construction worker recruitment.

Keywords: Character; Disposition; Migrant workers; Safety attitude; Self-efficacy; Self-esteem (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035349012
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