Dignity at Work: Employer Relations and the Experiences of Ukrainian Pre-War Female Migrant Workers in Israel

This article examines the experiences of Ukrainian pre-war female migrant workers in Israel's eldercare and cleaning sectors, focusing on how employer relations and workplace conditions shape their dignity. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 26 Ukrainian migrant women, the study explores the structural constraints and power dynamics that influence their lived experiences. The analysis identifies three key themes shaping migrant women's dignity: employer-inflicted abuse, the pursuit of dignity and resistance to humiliation and the impact of war in Ukraine on dignity construction. Findings reveal that while many women face economic control, emotional manipulation and social exclusion, they also engage in strategies of resistance to reclaim dignity. By framing vulnerability as a site of agency, this study demonstrates how Ukrainian migrant workers challenge systemic inequalities through defiance, negotiation and solidarity, asserting their dignity despite restrictive labour conditions.