Impacts of dual informalities on migrants’ social integration in megacities: A case study of urban villages in Guangzhou, China

This paper highlights the question of dual informalities in employment and dwelling in the context of migrant workers' social integration in urban China, with a focus on informal workers residing in urban villages in Guangzhou. Drawing on data from a survey of 350 migrants and 33 in-depth interviews conducted in two urban villages, the study explores how both work-associated and community-associated factors influence levels of social integration, which demonstrates the impacts of dual informalities on migrants' social integration. Job instability and lack of social security are detrimental to migrants' social integration, as stable jobs and coverage of social security are likely to bring about higher levels of social integration. The shortage of public space and poor public security in urban villages hinder migrants' social integration, as frequent use of public spaces and a stronger sense of community safety and inclusion are positively linked to integration. It is argued that dual informalities in employment and dwelling environments present migrant workers with greater difficulties in urban social integration. The paper concludes by contextualizing the challenge of migrants’ social integration within the growing trend of informality in global labor and housing markets.