Ethical considerations of recruiting migrant workers for clinical trials

Migrant workers in dormitories are an attractive source of clinical trial participants. However, they are a vulnerable population that has been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Guidelines on recruiting vulnerable populations (such as prisoners, children or the mentally impaired) for clinical trials have long been established, but ethical considerations for migrant workers have been neglected. This article aims to highlight and explain what researchers recruiting migrant workers must be cognizant of, and offers recommendations to address potential concerns. The considerations raised in this article include: three types of illiteracy, power dynamics, the risks associated with communal living and potential benefits to the migrant workers as well as researchers.