Migrant Members Research Articles

Causes of Internal Migration and Its Impact on Poverty: A Case Study from Kurigram District in Bangladesh

Internal migration plays a pivotal role in poverty reduction, and this phenomenon is widespread in Bangladesh. While some studies based on secondary data have been published on internal migration, the definitive conclusions drawn from this data remain unclear. Therefore, to address this gap, our study fills the void by utilizing primary data. The research primarily relies on data collected through interviews, encompassing 300 respondents who migrated, 100 family members of migrants, and 82 individuals from their kinship networks. The study uncovers crucial findings regarding the causes of internal migration and its impact on poverty. Furthermore, it sheds light on the theoretical underpinnings of migration theory. One significant discovery of the study is that the living standards of respondents improve after migration compared to their pre-migration living conditions. Additionally, this paper delves into the examination of socioeconomic and socio-demographic factors that influence the decision-making process of internal migration. By employing primary data and conducting in-depth analyses, this research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the intricacies surrounding internal migration and its effects on poverty alleviation.

Beyond here and there? A description and typology of multi-transnational extended family configurations of refugees

The number of persons forcibly displaced across international borders increased significantly over the last decade and forced migrants’ spatial family configurations have diversified and are likely to show different patterns compared to what research has found for, e.g. labour migrants. This paper examines and disentangles the diversity of spatial family arrangements across countries of nuclear and extended family members of female and male forced migrants surveyed in Germany. Moreover, I propose a typology of refugees’ family configurations based on the whereabouts of the partner, children, parents, and siblings. The empirical analyses employ representative survey data of recent refugees from Eritrea and Syria collected in Germany in 2020. This dataset allows to account for the whereabouts of members of the nuclear as well as extended family. Descriptive statistics show the prevalence and distributions of locations of specific family members and cluster analysis is conducted to identify and propose a typology of spatial configurations of refugee families. Finally, multinomial logistic regressions are used to test associations between the obtained clusters and gender, country of origin and the financial situation, controlling for other characteristics. The findings indicate that multi-transnational family constellations beyond origin and destination countries are a common pattern among refugees, especially when considering nuclear as well as extended family members. Furthermore, different types of spatial family arrangements are related to gender and country of origin as well as family financial resources.

Emotional Earmarking: Insights into Remittances and Emotions from a Mixed Methods Study of Migrant Households in Rural Philippines

Overseas remittances improve the economic conditions and influence the financial behaviors of international migrants’ families that remain in the country of origin. Remittances affect family relationships in the hometown and across transnational borders, but migration research has not yet analyzed these family dynamics through the lens of household finance. Recent studies address the remittance–emotion nexus partially and statically rather than holistically and dynamically, delivering an insufficient understanding of complex and evolving links mediated by the sending, using, and investing of remittances. Built on an existing family financial socialization model, and using mixed methods for case studies in two rural municipalities of the Philippines, this study sets out to determine how emotions come into play as families strive to use remittances productively. A central finding is that migrant households employ what we call emotional earmarking to bring about economic benefits along with concurrent emotional benefits to family relationships. This emotional earmarking can help families (as well as migration and development stakeholders) in the productive use of remittances and the maintenance of family connections despite the physical absence of migrant members.

Temporary Labor Migration from Sri Lanka to Gulf Cooperation Countries: Analyzing Labor Trafficking Amidst the Financial Crisis

Background and Aims: The financial crisis in Sri Lanka (SL) has marked a significant growth in temporary labor migration to Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Temporary labor migration refers to migration from one state to another in pursuit of employment opportunities for a temporary period. The National Policy on Migration for Employment (NPME) and the National Action Plan of SL asserted the importance of developing labor migration policies in response to the country’s severe need for remittances during the financial crisis. A financial crisis occurs when a country's expenditure exceeds its national income, resulting in a shortage of goods and services for its citizens. Along with this understanding, this paper examines how the temporary labor migration from SL to GCC has developed in response to the financial crisis in the country. It argues that reforming labor migration policies solely based on remittance does not appear to be adequate to protect migrants from trafficking. In this setting, the key research question is how labor trafficking has risen amidst the financial crisis in SL. Methodology: In this study, Delphi indicators have been utilized to identify the demarcations of labor trafficking. The data was collected from thirty interviews conducted with family members of labor migrants who migrated to GCC in 2022. Results: The results indicate that shortcomings in the governance of labor migration during the financial crisis in SL have led to an increase in labor trafficking. Conclusion: The paper concludes with the discursive, implementation, and efficacy gaps in the governance of labor migration and suggests a right-based framework to guarantee equitable recruitment procedures.

Acquisition, application, and distribution of health literacy from culturally sensitive type 2 diabetes education among Arabic-Speaking migrants in Denmark: A longitudinal qualitative analysis.

Effective self-management of type 2 diabetes requires adequate health literacy (HL) and a supportive network. Diabetes self-management education and support programmes play a crucial role in improving these factors. However, limited research exists on how such programmes can support health literacy among migrants and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge within their social networks. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Arabic-speaking informants with a migrant background in relation to how their type 2 diabetes-related health literacy was acquired, applied and distributed within social networks through participation in a culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 informants during the programme and three to 7 months later, from September 2019 to May 2020. Abductive analysis was applied using HL and distributed health literacy (DHL) theory as frameworks. The analysis generated three themes: (1) sources of health information and the development of health literacy; (2) changes towards active self-management; and (3) distributed health literacy. Prior to programme participation, informants faced challenges in navigating conflicting information from family, friends and social media. After participating in the programme, they reported improvements in HL, particularly in knowledge acquisition. Many became more actively engaged in decision-making and exhibited improved health behaviours, such as dietary choices. Nonetheless, some informants continued to struggle with choosing appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. Notably, certain informants acted as HL mediators, sharing their newly acquired knowledge within their social networks in Denmark and abroad. Culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education programmes have the potential to enhance HL among migrants, leading to the distribution of relevant diabetes knowledge within their social networks. Future studies should explore how members of migrants' social networks perceive their supportive role in type 2 diabetes management. Programmes can benefit from emphasising critical HL and exploring how participant-informants effectively communicate diabetes-related knowledge within their networks to address misinformation and conflicting information.

Emigration, Social Remittances and Fiscal Policy Preferences: Experimental Evidence From Mexico

How does emigration affect tax preferences in migrant-sending countries? Experiencing public services in a high tax-capacity destination may reduce support for tax increases by throwing fiscal failure at home into stark relief (the socialization hypothesis). Alternatively, migrants’ exclusion from certain public services may increase desire to fund these services in migrant origin countries (the exclusion hypothesis). We test these competing hypotheses with an online survey experiment in Mexico and explore variation in US healthcare access on fiscal policy preferences of migrant households. Migrant households, especially those with returned migrant members, are more supportive of taxation when tax revenue is earmarked for healthcare, a service to which many Mexican immigrants in the US lack access. It is migrants’ exclusion from, rather than their socialization into, the fiscal contract in destination countries that influences fiscal policy preferences in their countries of origin.

Impact of changes to the New Zealand family category policy on immigrants

Immigration New Zealand’s policy on family reunification has impacted new arrivals coming into Aotearoa New Zealand from different countries. Close family members of migrants have now been forced to leave their family members behind and live in different countries. This also shows that Immigration New Zealand’s family reunification policy is not in line with the international guidelines and laws of family reunification practices. This paper examines new empirical evidence for the impact of family reunification and integration on migrant health and wellbeing, and discusses potential harm that can be caused to migrants living in Aotearoa New Zealand. It also provides the groundwork for a future study. Reunification outcomes are considered for both partners and children of new migrants. The paper concludes by addressing the implications for migrants as a result of the current Immigration New Zealand policies regulating family reunification.

Migrant remittances, agriculture investment and cropping patterns

AbstractWe investigate how the receipt and amount of domestic or international transfers influences household decisions regarding farm investment and the selection of capital and labour‐intensive crops. We argue that, even though recipient households may use additional income to increase agricultural investment, investment can fall in the short run if labour constraints arising from the migrant member's absence are binding and capital accumulation is suboptimal. Employing a set of endogenous treatment estimates, we test this hypothesis on data from 5636 rural households in Pakistan. Our findings show a substantial difference between recipient and non‐recipient households in terms of their economic behaviour. Recipient households make 100% less agricultural investment and generate 82% less production compared to non‐recipient households. The estimates are found to be robust when tested with alternate empirical techniques (Heckman Selection and matching). The impact is stronger in the case of households that receive domestic transfers, with 100% less farm investment and 77% less production than non‐recipient households. Remittances result in a decrease in production of both capital‐ and labour‐intensive crops, reflecting a decline in overall farm activity. Similar farm investment and cropping patterns are observed relative to the amount of remittances received. The results are robust to different model specifications and estimation procedures.

Migration, gender labor division and food insecurity in Tajikistan

In recent decades millions living in low-income countries like Tajikistan have migrated to support their livelihoods. This massive, predominantly male, out-migration has transformed the agricultural sector. On the one hand, household members with migrants who stay behind, usually female and children, might replace migrant member’s previous tasks, leading to the feminization of agriculture. On the other hand, remittances can increase migrant households’ income leading to a reduction in their work and increase in their food security as their purchasing power strengthens. We study the relationship between migration, food insecurity and gender labor division for two production systems in Tajikistan. Using propensity score matching with village fixed effects, we find non-migrant households are associated with having more months of food shortages and spending more days without eating food. In terms of the division of labor, women in migrant households were associated with being more involved in labor-intensive activities. Our results provide evidence that while migration is correlated with greater food security, the demand on women’s time and labour increases. This has important implications for designing gender-inclusive agricultural and irrigation training and extension programs, which are usually targeted at males. Gender-sensitive design will be vital for improving countries like Tajikistan’s food security, malnutrition, and water resource management.

Exploring familial factors in the migrant mortality advantage among domestic migrants in later life: Zeeland, the Netherlands, 1812–1962

Many historical and contemporary studies have shown that migrants enjoy survival advantages over non-migrants, even if they originate from higher mortality regimes and have a lower socio-economic and educational status compared to non-migrants in the destination area. This so-called migrant mortality advantage or healthy migrant effect is explained in various ways. One of the main explanations refers to selection effects in the area of origin in the sense that healthier individuals are more likely to move compared to less healthy individuals. So far life-course analysis on the healthy migrant effect were focused on the survival chances of individual migrants compared to non-migrants. However, kin members of migrants might also enjoy survival advantages, given that health and mortality are often clustered in families due to shared environments, behaviors, resources, and household dynamics. We study whether kin members of migrants within the Dutch province of Zeeland also enjoy survival advantages. Although we find a mortality advantage for the migrating men and women in our sample, we find no mortality advantage for their siblings or offspring. However, there was a gendered effect of familial migration in the sense that women, contrary to men, had higher mortality risks if their siblings and parents migrated.

Drought and temporary migration in rural India: A comparative study across different socio-economic groups with a cross-sectional nationally representative dataset.

Vast stretches of India comes under meteorological drought this year or the other. A huge population base in rural India are rendered highly vulnerable to this drought because of their primary dependency on agriculture and in turn they may respond through temporary migration out of the drought affected rural areas in search of alternative livelihoods. This study aims to investigate the association between drought and temporary migration in rural India by fitting binary logistic regression models on a cross-sectional dataset involving both National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) 64th round data and India Meteorological Department (IMD) rainfall data. The paper also examines whether this association varies across the different socio-economic groups. Out of the total temporary migrants generated in rural India in the study period, 99.46% migrated internally and 67.12% were rural to urban migrants. The study finds that there is a positive association between drought instances and probability of a household to have at least one temporary migrant member in rural India (OR 1.64 with p<0.001) while controlling all other covariates. The study also concludes that the probability of temporary migration on account of drought is more severe among the socio-economically marginalised sections of the rural population compared to their better-off counterparts.

IMPACTS OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON MIGRANTS AT THE ORIGIN: LESSONS FOR MIGRATION GOVERNANCE

Considering the crucial role played by the migrants in the country’s macroeconomic stability, it is very important to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the migrant community of Bangladesh both at the destination and origin. Though the condition of the migrants at their destination is well discussed in the literature, there is little focus on their condition at the origin. In this context, the present study aims to analyze the impacts of the pandemic on the economic, social and psychosocial well-being of Bangladeshi migrants and their families at the origin to identify the weaknesses of the existing migration governance of the country which have contributed to perpetuating their sufferings. The study found that the returnee migrants and their households faced multifaceted negative impacts of the pandemic. Involuntary return of their migrant members and their stranded conditions, lack of employment and reduced remittance flow severely curtailed the income of migrant households, added to their debt burden and led to the curtailment of necessary expenditures. Migrants faced stigmatization and discrimination at both their destination and origin. Social stigma and involuntary repatriation had psychosocial impacts on them. The Government of Bangladesh took various initiatives to assist the migrants in coping with the challenges though they were not adequate. The present study suggests focusing on undocumented migration, “failed migration,” and reintegration to make the existing migration governance more prepared for similar future challenges.

Remittances from Internal Migration: Determinants and Its Impact on Household Welfare in Bangladesh

The study conducted to explore the determinants of internal remittance received by the left behind members of the farm households and remittance impact on their welfare. This study conducted mainly based on primary data for which 172 farm households were interviewed among which 89 households were households with migrant member and 83 households were households without any migrant member. Significant determinants of the internal migration remittances are household head education, household head non- land asset value, household income excluding remittances and age of the migrant member. Besides these migrant member education positively motivate the migrant to send remittance for their left behind members. The study found that internal remittance has positive impact on the welfare of the farm households in Bangladesh. The study recommend that proper policy is needed for internal migration to get the real benefits from internal remittance.

Trade unions challenges in organising Polish workers: A comparative case study of British and Swiss trade union strategies

This article analyses challenges in organising Polish workers by Unison (UK) and Unia (Switzerland). Using case studies of projects delivered by those unions with the aim to enhancing inclusion of Polish workers, the article argues that the internal union dynamics, such as union identity and structures are instrumental for a sustainable organisation of migrant members. Furthermore, the example of Unia demonstrates that an important factor for successful organising of Polish workers was the recognition of their collective agency and their contribution to union revitalisation. Finally, the research demonstrates that previous membership in Polish trade unions was not a significant factor influencing their involvement in British and Swiss workers’ movements.

Asylum seekers and other precarious immigrants on the frontlines of the pandemic: Work experiences, resilience, resistance and social contributions

This article describes the labour conditions of asylum seekers and other precarious migrant workers before and during the pandemic. Although this group’s labour conditions were already precarious prior to the pandemic, we show how those conditions worsened during the COVID crisis because of their racialized condition and precarious migratory status. We also discuss the systemic impacts these negative conditions had on their personal lives, families and communities in spite of measures implemented by the provincial and federal governments. The article describes the resilience and resistance shown through the actions of grassroots community organizations, with immigrant and migrant members denouncing the hardships in their working environments and their community life. A mixed-methods research approach was used to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data. The discussion and conclusions recognize the crucial social contributions of precarious immigrants, highlighting both their individual and political and collective resistance to their racialized condition and the negative effects they suffered during the pandemic.

Protection of Migrant Workers under the ICMW: Incompatibility with Malaysian Laws and Position in ASEAN

The International Convention on The Protection of The Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW) is the only Human Rights Convention that distinguishes between normal and irregular migrants in great detail. An analysis of the situation in Malaysia, based on feedback from relevant stakeholders, shows that there are insurmountable obstacles to ratification in relation to the ambiguous policy status for migrant workers, which is based on ad hoc policies. Malaysian legislation appears to be straightforward in its approach to labour migration policies, as it defines and categorises migrants into two distinct ‘categories': registered migrant (regular migrant) and undocumented migrant (irregular migrant), regardless of ability level. This article demonstrates that, despite the barriers and incompatibilities with national laws, the Convention, which is primarily a human rights instrument aimed at protecting the fundamental rights of all migrants, could assist Malaysia in ensuring a holistic and sustainable migration management that takes into account the needs of a whole approach and support from all parties involved, including but not limited to the Malaysian government. Part I of the article will go through the history of the convention's adoption, followed by Part II on the state of Malaysia's migration laws and policies, Part III on the compatibility and incompatibility of Malaysian laws with the ICMW and the position in ASEAN, and Part IV on recommendations.

General comment No. 5 (2021) on Migrants’ Rights to Liberty, Freedom from Arbitrary Detention and their Connection with other Human Rights

Abstract Article 16 of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families protects the right of migrant workers and members of their families to liberty and security of person. Under Article 17, those deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person and for their cultural identity. The Committee on Migrant Workers’ General Comment No. 5 (2021) provides authoritative interpretation of articles 16 and 17 and other articles of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families in the context of the rising trend towards criminalization of migration and increasingly frequent use of detention of migrants. General Comment No. 5 (2021) intends to provide guidance to States on fulfilling their obligations under the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families in relation to the right to liberty and protection against arbitrary detention, and other intersecting human rights obligations and other human rights obligations arising from the intersection of those rights with other human rights. The General Comment is also aimed at providing guidance to States on the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and to other stakeholders on implementing initiatives to promote and protect human rights and to monitor compliance thereof.

Social remittances during COVID-19: on the \u201cnew normality\u201d negotiated by transnational families

Social remittances- the transfer of ideas, practices, and codes of behaviors- are a well-documented subject in migrant transnationalism literature and transnational family studies. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has generated unprecedented regulations around the world which require widening the conceptual basis of social remittances in a state of emergency. As the pandemic progresses, most countries require civilians to follow a number of norms deemed as the “new normality,” while other countries continue to operate under their “old normality,” with minor or no restrictions. As national pandemic policy responses vary across countries, transnational families live under different regimes of “normality.” In these settings, the study of transnational families offers a valuable opportunity to examine a special type of social remittances practiced during global crises, and analyze whether the exchange of rules, practices, and ideas across national borders has any impact on re-shaping and renegotiating pandemic-coping “new normality” practices for both migrants and their families. The paper is based on 13 in-depth interviews conducted with representatives from Armenian transnational families with migrant members in Russia, the Czech Republic, or Belarus. These countries provide a backdrop for an examination of social remittances among transnational families that we term “pandemic transnationalism.” The study shows that the circulation of safety rules and “good practices” actively shapes the everyday behavior of migrants and their families, their level of perceived danger towards the coronavirus, and their practical knowledge of safety measures. The latter are often harnessed in informal collective settings despite being in conflict with the obligations and regulations of their home society.

Migrant parents as policymakers: advocating for equitable English as an additional language (EAL) policy

ABSTRACT Language policy research puts little emphasis on parental agency in language policy decision-making for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students. This study investigates how migrant parents and community members interpreted and experienced the effects and outcomes of EAL policies. Through qualitative interviews with 35 migrant parents and community members as well as two focus groups, this study shows that from the parents’ perspectives, there were systemic inequities of the EAL policies that disadvantage EAL students. In light of the existing inequities and discrimination toward EAL, parents made several recommendations to policymakers at the school, district, and provincial levels. This study contributes to both migrant parental engagement and language-in-education policy. The paper underscores parental agency in language policy decision-making for EAL students; the voices are needed for the development of equitable EAL policies. Results of this research will provide directions for EAL policies, programs, and services, as well as new insights into the effectiveness of advocacy and capacity building of EAL parents.

Accession with low compliance: Sri Lanka’s experience with the 1990 International Convention on Migrant Workers

ABSTRACT The article reviews Sri Lanka’s compliance with the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW) acceded in 1996. The article highlights the common issue of routine accession/ratification of international Conventions by origin countries without full appreciation of their corresponding obligations. It highlights the large gap between accession and compliance with the Convention even after two decades. While Sri Lanka has taken a series of steps to improve migration governance and protection of migrant workers, there are several significant gaps in compliance with the ICRMW as reflected in the failure to bring national migration legislation in line with ICRMW provisions, continued abuse and exploitation of both female and male migrant workers in major destination countries, persistent recruitment malpractices, and lack of credible policies to deal immigrant workers. Some examples from Bangladesh and the Philippines – the other two major countries in Asia to ratify the ICRMW – have been cited to provide comparative insights where relevant. The article highlights several policy areas for action, especially by the government.