Labour Migration Research Articles

NGOs’ Approach to the Reintegration of Returned Female Labor Migrants in Bangladesh

NGOs’ Approach to the Reintegration of Returned Female Labor Migrants in Bangladesh

Prevalence and social determinants of depression: A cross-sectional survey of Myanmar migrant workers in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT Background: Depression is a common mental disorder and the sixth leading cause of disability in Thailand. Chiang Mai has historically been a city of attraction for labour migration for Shan migrants from the adjacent Southern Shan State of Myanmar. Currently, only infectious diseases are screened during the pre-employment period. Prevention and early detection of noncommunicable diseases can improve a healthy workforce and reduce the healthcare burden on the host country. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done among Myanmar migrant adults legally working in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Results: The final analysis included 360 participants and the prevalence of depression was 14.4%. Being female, duration of stay in Thailand of more than 10 years, co-residence with co-workers, and marginalisation pattern of acculturation were significant associated factors affecting depression in a multivariate regression analysis model. Conclusion: Although the culture and dialect were not different between the host and country of origin, Myanmar migrant workers of Shan ethnicity suffered from depression. Our findings highlighted the importance of social determinants beyond common predictors of depression among migrants and the need for public health measures to promote migrants' integration into the host culture.

Skill the low-skilled: the knowledge-driven stepwise migration of Vietnamese workers in South China

This article investigates the interplay between knowledge acquisition and the stepwise migration trajectories of low-skilled Vietnamese workers in China. Utilizing a rich array of data garnered from face-to-face interviews, customized surveys, on-site observations, media narratives, and an archival review of government regulations in Guangxi—a province bordering Vietnam—and in Guangdong, a non-adjacent province, this study proposes an analytical framework, skill-driven migration, to highlight the synergy between the pre-migratory socio-demographic attributes of migrants and the circumstances prevailing in both the places of origin and destination which orchestrates distinct job allocations and skill augmentation avenues. Notably, our study underscores that the competencies acquired in manufacturing employments potentially broaden the horizon of destinations for migrants in their subsequent stepwise migration endeavors. This phenomenon, in turn, poses intricate immigration management quandaries for newly emerged destination nations like China, spotlighting a nuanced dimension of labor mobility and policy frameworks in the evolving regional economic integration. Last, our findings challenge the conventional dichotomy of high-skilled and low-skilled categories of labor migration, as well as the dichotomy of explicit-tacit knowledge.

Southern Thailand’s crossroads: conflict and economic repercussions

This study examines the interrelation between prolonged conflict and economic stagnation in Southern Thailand, focusing on the government’s role in mitigating these issues. It explores the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and political complexities that contribute to the region’s unrest and economic underperformance compared to the national average. Emphasizing the post-2004 escalation of violence, this research analyzes the detrimental impact on key economic sectors like tourism and agriculture and the consequences of labor migration and investment trends. The study evaluates the effectiveness of the Thai government’s multifaceted peacebuilding and economic recovery initiatives, from infrastructure development to community engagement programs, and security measures. It highlights the challenges of ensuring long-term economic growth, inclusive development, and effective project implementation. Finally, the study underscores the need for strategies that transcend theoretical frameworks, advocating for approaches grounded in on-the-ground intelligence and cultural awareness to foster sustainable peace and economic development in conflict-affected regions.

DETERMINAN MIGRASI INTERNASIONAL TENAGA KERJA

Labor migration is a phenomenon that occurs in various regions, especially East Java Province as one of the provinces that has a high level of productivity. The movement of labor can be influenced by various factors. This study aims to analyze the determinants of international labor migration in East Java in 2015-2019. the type of data used in this study is secondary data. The research method used in this research is panel data regression. The results of the study show that the GRDP variable influences positively but not significantly, while poverty and unemployment variables influences negatively and react not significantly. Meanwhile, the district/city minimum wage variable influences negatively and significantly on the number of international labor migration in East Java.

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СХЕМ ТРУДОВОЇ МІГРАЦІЇ ТА ЇЇ СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНИХ НАСЛІДКІВ В УЗБЕКИСТАНІ

Formulation of the problem. Labor migration has emerged as a significant socioeconomic phenomenon in Uzbekistan, impacting both the sending regions within the country and the receiving countries abroad. This research paper aims to analyze the patterns of labor migration within Uzbekistan and to other countries, while also assessing its socioeconomic implications. The purpose of the article is to analyze and evaluate the schemes of labor migration in Uzbekistan, taking into account their socio-economic consequences, as well as studying the volume of labor migration, the main directions and motivations of migrants, determining the impact of this phenomenon on the economy, the labor market, the social sphere and other aspects of public life in Uzbekistan. The object of the study is labor migration schemes and their socio-economic consequences in the context of Uzbekistan. The methodological basis and information base of the research are current scientific and applied research, statistical information. The article uses a number of methods, including analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization. The main hypothesis of the study is that the analysis of labor migration schemes and their consequences will reveal the key factors that influence this process and its impact on the economy, the labor market, the social sphere and other aspects of public life in Uzbekistan. We assume that such an analysis will allow us to develop effective strategies and policies to optimize labor migration in order to ensure sustainable socio-economic development of the country. Presenting main material. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of labor migration data and qualitative interviews with migrants and relevant stakeholders. By understanding the drivers and consequences of labor migration, this research provides valuable insights for policymakers to design effective strategies that maximize the benefits and minimize the challenges associated with labor mobility. The originality and practical significance of the study lies in a comprehensive approach to the analysis of labor migration schemes and its socio-economic consequences in the context of Uzbekistan, new insights into the relationship between labor migration and the country's development, revealing the peculiarities of this phenomenon in the Uzbek context. The practical significance of this article is that it can serve as a basis for the development of effective strategies and policies for the management of labor migration in Uzbekistan. Conclusions of the study can be useful for governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with issues of migration and socio-economic development. The findings of the study indicate the need to develop comprehensive programs to support migrants, as well as the need to reform the labor migration management system in Uzbekistan in order to ensure sustainable development of the country and improve the quality of life of migrants and their families.

IMPACT OF E-COMMERCE ON INTERCULTURAL ASPECTS OF COMMUNICATION

Digitalization of business in combination with cultural diversity has created a new space and conditions where communication becomes a challenge. The purpose of the article is to identify intercultural aspects of communication in the context of digital business development. It is established that cultural sensitivity in business involves, on one hand, the formation of respect for legal and moral norms specific to a particular community, and on the other hand, enhances the operational efficiency of the company. It is argued that cultural factors influence decision-making in international business, and awareness and knowledge of cultural differences enhance the competitiveness of the company. It is postulated that the intercultural competencies of managers should be viewed in terms of their new functions and socio-professional roles in transnational organizations and through the lens of their cultural intelligence, which facilitates adaptation to new cultural realities and cultural freedom—a set of necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities for a manager in an international and even global dimension. The top 10 countries in the Digital Technology Usage Index (NRI) reveal three trends: they belong to high-income countries, demonstrate reliable network readiness in all dimensions, and European countries continue to dominate the list. These trends persisted in the 2023 ranking. The challenges hindering the development of digital trends and the transformation of the Ukrainian economy into a digital one are substantiated. Two scenarios for the development of digital business in Ukraine are identified depending on the assessment of the criticality and necessity of changes in the traditional economic structure: the inertial (evolutionary) and the targeted (forced). In the case of implementing the inertial scenario, the Ukrainian economy will remain inefficient, labor migration will continue, and Ukrainian products will be non-competitive in external markets. The targeted scenario envisions the transition of the Ukrainian economy to a digital one within 3-5 years. The result will be the emergence of new norms, standards, and value systems. The internationalization of management changes the traditional model of management communications.

Intimacy and industry: the multiple heterosexual intimacies shaping cycle rickshaw men’s labor and migration in India

ABSTRACT Indian men who migrated circularly from their village homes to Delhi to pedal cycle rickshaws for work practiced intimate relationships with their wives, sex workers, and middle-class female customers. While the intimacy practiced by South Asian men who migrate is, in popular discourse, often framed as deviancy or assumed to be only about physical gratification, this article’s ethnography demonstrates that rickshaw men’s heterosexual/erotic intimacies took multiple forms which were variously characterized by sexual exchange, physical closeness, emotional connections, and/or the denial of gender and sexuality. The intimate practices were informed by intersecting identities and systems of social hierarchy, and it is argued that they had considerable bearing on the men’s migration decisions and labor performance. Although neither intimacy studies nor South Asian labor migration studies are in the habit of analyzing industries like the cycle rickshaw industry through the same lens as, for example, sex work or surrogacy and fertility work, a case is made that such industries that rely on South Asian male migrants’ manual labor and migration may, too, be profitably understood as intimate industries.

A Problem-Based Approach in Social Justice Education: A Focus-Group Study From Singapore

The author of this article examines data collected from focus-group discussions about the impact of a social justice education module on human trafficking and low-skilled labor migration in South and Southeast Asia. Employing cognitive developmental theory as an analytical framework, this article shows how the structural complexity of the issue caused cognitive dissonance and motivated further inquiry among students. Furthermore, the presence of diverse scholarly accounts enabled students to form their own judgment about how to respond. While students differed on what solution they judged most appropriate, most students thought that workers deserved fairer treatment. Some students even put their beliefs into action.

Labour migration as a solution to an ageing population?

Labour migration is often mentioned as a way to mitigate the impact of ageing in wealthy societies. This article analyses the impact of labour migration on the welfare level and old-age dependency ratio of a prosperous ageing country, the Netherlands. If labour migrants are considered to be part of the population of the host country, they only contribute to a higher welfare level if their productivity is higher than per capita GDP. If they stay permanently and form a family, their productivity will need to be higher than the average labour productivity of the incumbent workforce. Labour migrants will mitigate the rise of the old-age dependency ratio, but only if they only stay in the host country temporarily. Therefore, only selective and temporary labour migration will relieve the ‘burden’ of an ageing society.

Public control over migrant workers in Russia: to the problem statement

This article is devoted to the analysis of modern problems of the organization and implementation of public control over migrant workers in the Russian Federation. The authors argue that public control is the leading institution of civil society, which is the most important legal guarantee for the implementationand protection of both the system of constitutional principles and the entire system of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens and non-governmental non-profit organizations. The paper substantiates the position that public control measures should be carried out in relation to: authorized public authorities in the field of migration relations; enterprises, institutions and organizations that invite, import and use foreign citizens as labor, as well as stateless persons who previously lived abroad; labor migrants themselves; formal (registered in The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation), and informal public associations of migrant workers. In the course of writing this scientific article, a number of general and private scientific research methods were used, including: formal-logical; comparative-legal; historical-legal; statistical; sociological; method of analyzing specific legal situations. The article develops and substantiates a system of measures to optimize the processes of organizing and implementing public control over the above-mentioned objects related to labor migration, including by: formalizing public control in the Constitution as well as in legislation on public control; determining the list of subjects of public control authorized to organize and conduct public control in relation to the above-mentioned public relations; obliging any subjects employing foreigners and stateless persons to create trade union organizations; conducting scientific and practical research in the above-mentioned sphere of public control; incorporation into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation of measures of responsibility for countering the legitimate activities of representatives of subjects of public control in the field of labor migration; strengthening the organizational, legal and logistical base of subjects of public control in this area.

Navigating brain drain in the Western Balkans

This article analyses the European Commission’s attitude vis-à-vis labour migration and brain drain in the Western Balkans. It uses Croatia’s post–EU accession experience as a focal point. Grappling with elevated migration rates and a decline in natality, the Western Balkan countries are an interesting region in terms of demographic change. Examining how much attention the Commission pays to brain drain, the article notes an increase since 2019; yet this focus appears disproportionately limited considering the potential repercussions for economic growth and social welfare in the countries experiencing it. The Commission’s predominantly negative view of brain drain emphasises that it is the nations affected that are responsible for avoiding it, thereby confirming that it is caused by a skills mismatch. The article recommends integrating brain-drain prevention measures into the enlargement process, and encourages the Commission to improve its focus on the matter in its annual candidate and potential candidate country progress reports.

The Political Economy of Migration

In this review of Immanuel Ness's Migration as Economic Imperialism, Torkil Lauesen illuminates the links between the migration of labor to theories of equal exchange, which have traditionally focused on international trade. These connections, Lauesen writes, relate to transfer of labor power from the periphery to the core, and the concomitant exploitation of vulnerable workers from the Global South.

Wage Bargaining Power of Internal Migrant Workers: Evidence from Urban Labor Market in China

This study analyses the wage bargaining power of employers and internal migrant workers in the urban labor market in China using a two-tiered SFA model. The findings indicate that bargaining power decreases the observed wage relative to the benchmark wage which is associated with worker’s actual productivity. The availability of migrant labor is identified to be a key variable in the wage bargaining process. This study reveals that the migrant workers who obtain jobs via informal job search methods stand in a weak bargaining position relative to those using formal search methods which is consistent with limited choices hypothesis. Additionally, the migrant workers in the manufacturing and construction industries or producing and processing occupations extract surplus nearly identical to other groups.

Remittance Outflow and Economic Growth Linkage: The Role of Trade,ICT, Human, and Physical Capital

This study focuses on how remittance outflow shapes the economic growth (EG) performance in leading remittance-sending nations, considering the role of trade, ICT, and human and physical capital as control variables. It utilizes panel data from 1990 to 2021 and utilizes second-generation econometric methods. Our findings reveal a cointegration among variables and show that remittance outflow is growth-enhancing in leading remittance-paying countries. Trade, capital formation, and ICT deployment positively impact economic performance and appear to be a blessing for EG. While the role of HC is insignificant, indicating that it does not affect EG. The outcome suggests that remittance outflow is not an economic problem for the remittance-paying nations; instead, they must utilize the talent and skills of migrant labor to achieve EG. Our results suggest that policymakers should concentrate on using the talent and skills of migrant labor, consider trade as a source of growth, develop policies to improve the skills and competencies of the local workforce and deploy and utilize ICT facilities effectively to achieve sustainable EG.

Between Marketization and Demarketization: Reconfiguration of the Migration Industry in the Agricultural Sector in Israel

This paper focuses on the consequences of the implementation of a bilateral agreement between Israel and Thailand for migrant workers in the agricultural sector. Its purpose is to shed light on the key mechanisms of the transition from the marketization to demarketization of recruiting migrant workers, and to show how this transition affects the forms of labor recruitment and its consequences for the labor migrants. The study is based on three face-to-face surveys conducted among 180 agricultural workers from Thailand. Fifty-five were surveyed in 2011 before the implementation of the bilateral agreement, and 125 were interviewed after the agreement was implemented. Relying on a “before” and “after design, we first highlight the ways in which the private recruitment industry operated in Israel in the context of a state-sponsored temporary labor migration program, identifying the actors involved in the process and explaining how they profited from the labor recruitment. Second, we shed light on the importance of bilateral agreements in eliminating illicit practices for recruiting foreign workers in Israel and its practical consequences for the Thai migrants arriving under the new arrangement. We discuss our findings in light of the theories presented in the paper.

Socio-Economic and Demographic Changes in Rural Development in Eastern China — Comparative Studies

This study focuses on eastern China and samples the villages of Xinsi and Qingshan in Shandong Province to explore rural socioeconomic and demographic changes and their interaction with policies. Amid global urbanization, China’s rural population has migrated to cities on a large scale, causing challenges such as “rural emptying,” aging, environmental issues, and inadequate infrastructure. The government has implemented a number of policies aimed at modernizing agriculture, improving farmers’ welfare, and reducing the gap between urban and rural areas. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of rural development policies, particularly in response to demographic and socio-economic changes, and the interaction between local policies and practices. Combining macroeconomic policy analysis, agricultural planning, land-use data, demographics, field visits and case studies, this paper compares the two models of rural development in inland and coastal areas. The study reveals that China’s rural areas are undergoing demographic shifts, with labor migration leading to “hollowing out,” while promoting diversification and compound transformation of the agricultural economy, such as the rise of non-agricultural industries and the development of rural tourism. At the policy level, China’s rural strategy has undergone an evolution, emphasizing agricultural modernization, optimization of industrial structure, and infrastructure construction, while current policy emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and inclusion, reflecting a “people-oriented” and “solving the problems of agriculture, rural areas and rural areas.” The policy effect is affected by regional differences, highlighting the configuration of China’s diverse geography, economy, and culture in the path of rural development and policy response. The cases of Xinsi and Qingshan villages show how rural communities can innovate multifunctional development models based on resource characteristics, connect with or challenge policy frameworks, and explore new avenues of development. Xinsi Village can actively promote the development of the surrounding service industry through cooperation with local enterprises, while Qingshan Village is expected to take advantage of coastal advantages to develop marine economy, rural tourism and modern agriculture, while protecting and inheriting the local culture.

Labor Migration to the Gulf Countries: Indian Prospective

Migration is movement of individual of a group of people for many reasons either within the country or outside. There are certain factors which leading to such from one to another often referred to as pull factors and push factors. The present paper attempts to explain the pattern and trend of migration of Indian people to gulf countries.

Does the closure of polluting enterprises improve rural livelihoods? Evidence from rural China

AbstractIn response to an increasingly dire pollution scenario, the Chinese government initiated the largest and most extensive environmental inspection campaign in history starting in 2016. Numerous polluting enterprises were closed due to environmental concerns in the rural areas. Drawing on two‐period panel data from the China Rural Development Survey, this study revealed the inherent mechanism of the polluting enterprises closure on local rural livelihoods using the difference‐in‐differences method and structural equation model, with reference to the sustainable livelihood framework. Results showed that shuttering polluting enterprises enhanced rural households' livelihood capital, notably in human, natural, and physical aspects, and promoted labor migration. Additional heterogeneous analysis revealed that the enhancements were notably more pronounced in Southern China and among affluent demographics. Based on the findings, we suggested the local government should support the development of sustainable agriculture and green industries and pay more attention to vulnerable populations when making policy decisions. The use of mandatory directives, such as shutting down polluting enterprises, is a common strategy in developing countries. This study presents an analytical framework for understanding the impact of environmental governance on the livelihoods of rural households in developing countries, contributing to a better balance between rural environmental management and livelihood improvement in these regions.

Framing labour migration as a social problem on Russian Telegram

The paper upholds the problem of the discursive representation of the migrant workers from Central Asia and Transcaucasia on Telegram. The premise is that social problems become more ‘salient’ in discourse due to framing. The objective of the research is to identify frames interpreting labour migration, explain how telegrammers generate meanings about the outgroups and what frames contribute to the problematization of the social issue. The study focuses on the mechanisms by which the ethnic groups are presented to the subscribers. A cognitive-discursive approach is claimed central as it enables the author to concentrate on the cultural, social, cognitive and linguistic aspects of the phenomenon. The deductive approach to systematizing frames is prioritized. To gain understanding of the foci of the frames in the context of labour migration debate the discourse analysis and the frame analysis are employed. The paper presents a case study based on the relevant posts published on Telegram between 2019 and 2023. The results show that on the generic level framing of labour migration activates the Law and Order macro frame. On the issue-specific level the frames of a higher degree of precision problematize the social issue in the aspects of crimes and delinquencies committed by the migrant workers, and crimes committed by the locals in relation to the ongoing economic situation. In the Russian Telegram discourse, framing specifies the image of the migrants, bringing to the fore their collective criminal activity and fatal threat to the citizens. The most prominent foci of the frames are analyzed on the contextual level. Negative presentation of the migrants has been revealed as the leading discursive strategy that ‘cements’ pejorative stereotypes about the ethnic groups they belong to. The findings contribute to Discourse studies and could be used to tackle the problems of migrant adaptation.