Overseas Employment Research Articles

Flexible sovereignty and contested legality: The overseas employment and legal struggles of Chinese workers

The surge in Chinese overseas investments has increased the transnational movement of Chinese workers. While much literature explores the interactions between Chinese managers and local workers in host countries, the dynamics between Chinese employers and Chinese workers abroad remain under-examined. This paper employs the conceptual frameworks of flexible sovereignty and contested legality to examine the distinctive norms and practices in labor recruitment, management, and dispute resolution emerged through overseas employment. Through a critical review of lawsuits between returned Chinese workers and their Chinese employers in Chinese courts – originating from the top five African countries receiving Chinese labor (Algeria, Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Equatorial Guinea) – the analysis reveals new spatialities and temporalities of sovereign control exerted by globalized Chinese companies over overseas workplaces and migrant workers. Overseas employment marks a complex process of coupling and decoupling among various forms of Chinese capital and labor. Three mechanisms of corporate sovereign control are identified: the delineation of workplaces and workers' bodies as spaces of exception, the flexibilization of working hours and job tenure, and the politics of delays in wage disbursement and dispute resolution. These mechanisms provoke contentious debates during court proceedings and result in uneven judicial outcomes for Chinese workers.

Breaking down barriers; unravelling the root causes and effects of brain drain in Pakistan.

Respected Editor, The term ‘brain drain’ refers to the migration of highly skilled and educated professionals from one country to another in search of better employment and living conditions. Brain drain has a detrimental impact on developing nations, leaving a counterproductive outcome due to the depletion of skilled human resources. According to the Pakistan Overseas Employment Corporation, around 21,000 professionals have migrated to other countries in the last 15 years.1 Brain drain has a pervasive effect across various domains, with healthcare being primarily one of the greatly affected. The most prevalent reason is the insufficient stipends and substandard workplace settings for professionals. Doctors work tirelessly yet are forced to face the injustice of the system, incidents of violence, and exploitation at the hands of their superiors. Most doctors (83%) agreed that meager salary packages and inequitable overtime duties motivated them to move abroad.2 Political instability in Pakistan has also affected the resettlement of healthcare individuals nationwide. Up to 81% of doctors are compelled to leave the country due to constant political turmoil.3 Blatant misogyny and cultural bounds have deterred women from working, contradicting the high female enrollment in medical colleges of Pakistan. Moreover, because of the brain drain, Pakistan is losing an insurmountable intellectual capital and educational investment, resulting in enormous pressure on the healthcare professionals who stay behind, contributing to the collapse of the already vulnerable system. Usually, the emigrants are of the privileged class which creates disparity because the ones left behind end up facing impecunious conditions and unfair working hours. The migration rate of healthcare professionals in Pakistan is increasing progressively. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are four high-income countries where 56% of international medical graduates (IMGs) emigrate from low-income countries to have a better quality of life, monetary incentives, job opportunities, better education, and training. Furthermore, just three nations India, Pakistan, and the Philippines are home to 45% of IMGs.4,5 Therefore, we suggest that the government adopt strategies that will accommodate doctors, introducing remunerative packages and more employment opportunities to persuade them to serve their nation. The government should ameliorate the workplace environment to international standards, ensuring the safety and security of the professionals. Additionally, educational and training grounds should be provided to individuals to develop their skills. These immediate measures must be taken to minimize the escalating brain drain and aid in revamping the healthcare system of Pakistan.

Does Information Improve the Experience of Pursuing Labor Migration? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Pakistan

A large literature on international labor migration explores how to improve low-skilled migrants’ experience of pursuing and obtaining overseas employment. Much of this scholarship focuses on describing and mitigating difficult, and sometimes exploitative, conditions in the host country. Scholars have paid less attention to factors in home countries that may affect aspiring migrants’ experience of looking for overseas work. We help address this gap by conducting a field experiment in the high out-migration country of Pakistan to examine whether receiving new information about employment brokers and overseas opportunities improves aspiring migrants’ subjective and objective experience of the job-seeking process. After analyzing the effects of information on those who lack alternative sources of information, we report mixed findings. These highlight the need to think carefully about ways to improve aspiring migrants’ job-seeking experiences, especially with regard to the common assumption that if low-skilled migrants simply “knew more” — that is, had more relevant and accurate information — they would not allow themselves to have negative migration experiences; our findings suggest this is not necessarily always the case.

Exploring Labor Migration Patterns: A Study On Uzbek Migrant Workers Abroad

This study explores the various methods employed by labor migrants from Uzbekistan to migrate abroad for employment, both temporarily and permanently. It provides a comprehensive analysis based on data from a survey conducted by official sources. The research reveals the significant presence of Uzbek migrant workers in countries such as the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, and Korea, with construction being the primary sector of employment. It also examines the role of the Foreign Labor Migration Agency (FLMA) in facilitating overseas employment and highlights Uzbekistan's efforts to diversify its labor migration destinations amidst growing concerns regarding migrants in Russia. The findings underscore the need for a comprehensive review incorporating data from both Uzbekistan and the receiving countries to understand the full scope of labor migration dynamics.

Bangladesh's Climate Vulnerability and Overseas Migration: Navigating Challenges and Paving the Way Forward

Bangladesh ranks seventh on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, which identifies the nations most susceptible to natural catastrophes, demonstrating how sensitive the country is to both climate change and natural disasters. Millions of people are forced to migrate to neighboring cities and urban areas in search of work and a living each year as a result of climate change and natural disasters such as river bank erosion, salinity intrusion, floods, cyclones, and landslides in Bhola, Khulna, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, and Gaibandha. Urban life is strained by this influx, especially in terms of housing, water supply, and sanitation. Many of these individuals also seek overseas employment as a means of survival. While numerous organizations, including government institutions, are working to promote safe and regular international migration and overseas employment, a portion of these individuals fall prey to labor trafficking due to a lack of information, monitoring, and services from the administration. Additionally, communities in climate-risk areas are ultimately forced to choose between internal and international migration due to the sluggish adoption of climate-resilient agricultural methods and technologies, as well as the dearth of technical and vocational education options. For these regions of significant natural disasters and climate change, the government has to provide more secure migration policies and encourage productive remittance investment.

Third-country hiring: The case of Overseas Filipino Workers in Taiwan to Poland

This study explores the complexities of third-country serial labor migration among Filipino factory workers, specifically those moving from Taiwan to Poland—an activity deemed illegal by the Philippine government. Utilizing qualitative methods, the research conducts in-depth interviews with participants like Mae, Rick, and Justin, complemented by a key informant interview. The findings reveal a nuanced decision-making process, with participants expressing a desire for enhanced job conditions, contractual flexibility, and career advancement opportunities in Poland. Despite the Philippines' oversight and support for temporary migration, the practice of third-country hiring raises legal and ethical concerns. Without proper authorization from the Philippine government, recruiting workers through a third country is deemed illegal. To protect migrant workers, established procedures, including obtaining an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), are implemented to ensure lawful deployment. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding serial labor migration, providing valuable insights that can inform policy frameworks and practices aimed at enhancing the welfare and protection of migrant workers within the global labor market. Through analysis of the experiences and challenges faced by Filipino factory workers engaging in third-country migration, this research seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in labor migration processes and advocate for measures to safeguard the rights and well-being of migrant workers worldwide.

EXPLORING THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR LESS-SKILLED, SEMI-SKILLED AND SKILLED MIGRANT WORKERS OF BANGLADESH: PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARD

The purpose of this paper intends to explore the employment opportunities in East European countries (EECs) for less-skilled, semi-skilled and skilled migrant workers of Bangladesh through prospects, challenges & way forward. This study, using qualitative approach, has utilized the purposive and snowball sampling technique for executing thirty in-depth interviews along with two FGDs. Data has been analyzed by content analysis and thematic analysis. The findings reveal some lucrative job sectors in the labor market of East European countries, along with a few financial and nonfinancial prospects for Bangladeshi migrants. Some of these prospects include attractive compensation packages, medical allowances, public health facilities, and prompt remittance-sending facilities. Nevertheless, some highly weighted challenges, such as high migration costs, limited knowledge about government services, lack of access to finance, language barriers, cultural differences, and legal support, pose hindrances also. To overcome these challenges, policies and actions such as increasing tax incentives, affordability, easy access to loans, ensuring financial transaction protection, education and awareness campaigns, economic incentives, community building initiatives, easy access to services, and anti-discrimination laws and policies can assist a lot. The government of Bangladesh is providing some support, but most current and prospective workers are not well aware of these services. However, the result of this paper has found EEC to be a prominent source of overseas employment for the less-skilled, semi-skilled, and skilled labor force of Bangladesh.

Medical brain drain: A critical challenge to Pakistan's healthcare sector.

Madam, Medical brain drain describes a condition where highly skilled healthcare workers leave their country of origin to work overseas in search of better working conditions, higher pay, or more opportunities for career advancement leading to deprivation of medical professionals and a loss of expertise and talent (1). Unfortunately, the exodus of skilled individuals from Pakistan is jeopardises country's intellectual assets and demands immediate attention. Skilled healthcare workers shortage is worsening in Pakistan due to the high number of talented professionals migrating for better career opportunities in the foreign land. According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment in 2022 alone, approximately 765,000 Pakistanis, including 2,500 physicians, left the country, highlighting the severity of the situation (2) The medical profession is highly regarded in Pakistan and attracts a significant number of people. Despite this, Pakistan is among the 57 countries that lack sufficient human health resources to fulfil its healthcare requirements and objectives. The country is confronted with a considerable discrepancy in the ratio of doctors to patients which stands at 1:1300, significantly below the ratio of 1:1000 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (3) The degradation of the healthcare system, shortage of residency positions and lower salaries during a period of high inflation, coupled with cultural biases and undervaluation of professions like nursing have led to a shortage of healthcare staff. Moreover, societal expectations for women to prioritize their domestic duties contribute to the disproportionate number of female doctors leaving the medical field. This further burdens the healthcare system by increasing the workload for the remaining healthcare professionals (4) Brain drain hampers economic growth and innovation by robbing the nation of its skilled professionals and their expertise. This issue can be addressed by adopting a comprehensive approach such. Improving the healthcare infrastructure and working conditions, increasing residency positions and salaries and providing better job opportunities could help retain competent doctors. Encouraging research on brain drain can aid policymakers in developing tailored policies based on the country's needs. These measures can help Pakistan build a robust healthcare system and provide quality medical services to its people.

Exploring the Association Between Behavioural Modification in Response to the Prevailing Economic Crisis and Mental Health Outcomes of Nurses from Teaching Hospitals, Sri Lanka.

The nursing profession is a cornerstone in the healthcare workforce. Yet, it remains vulnerable to severe mental health challenges, stemming from a complex interplay of social and occupational factors. It is evident that crisis situations have profound influence on the mental-wellbeing of nurses. To explore the association between behavioural modification in response to the prevailing economic crisis and mental health outcomes of nurses from teaching hospitals, Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was carried out among nursing professionals (n = 261) who are employed in distinct teaching hospitals (n = 7) in Sri Lanka. Considering the bed-capacity of each hospital, participants were purposively selected and invited to complete an online-based self-administered questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics and lifestyle modifications to deal with the economic crisis, while Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) a set of three self-reported scales to assess the level of depression, anxiety, and stress, was used. Data was analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 version, Descriptive analysis was performed to present frequencies of both demographic characteristics and lifestyle and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, while the Chi-square test was used to determine the association between selected independent variables and mental health outcomes. A multivariate regression model was performed to determine the predictors of mental health outcomes of the study participants. There were a total of 261 participants, 86.2% were married, and 66.2% had children. The proportion of mild to extreme depression, anxiety, and stress were 58.2%, 65.9%, and 72.0% respectively. In response to the economic challenges, 91.6% of study participants reported reducing expenditures on general household needs, while the proportion of participants who curtailed spending on food, monthly savings, and entertainment were 75.9%, 79.3%, and 73.6% respectively. Notably, 81.6% of participants initiated the process of applying for overseas employment, and 50.6% pursued academic programs to be eligible for foreign placements. The present study observed a higher level of depression, anxiety and stress among nurses from teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka. It was noted that nurses had taken steps to respond to financial strain by reducing essential elements of their routine. Additionally, study participants chose to seek foreign placements as a solution to the economic burden, as a result just over half of the respondents completed an academic program in order to be qualified for jobs abroad. Further, these initiatives are significantly associated with negative emotional disorders of the participants. Therefore, interventions should be implemented to promote positive mental health outcomes of nursing professionals in Sri Lanka.

Impact of unstable environment on the brain drain of highly skilled professionals, healthcare workers, researchers, and research productivity in Pakistan.

The geo-strategic position of Pakistan on the world map is incredibly important and idyllic as the country is considered the gateway to central Asia. Pakistan has faced political instability for the last three decades, causing a brain drain and adversely affecting socioeconomic growth. This study aims to investigate the impact of an unstable environment on the brain drain of highly skilled professionals, healthcare workers, researchers, and research productivity in Pakistan from January 2000 to December 2022. The data were recorded from the World Bank, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOS), Pakistan, Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), and Web of Science Clarivate Analytics. Initially, 32 documents were selected in this study, and finally, eight fact sheets, official government websites, and international organizations were included. The result revealed that due to political instability, in 2022 about 832,339 highly qualified and accomplished experts headed abroad, among them 17976 (2.15%) were highly qualified and 20865 (2.50%) were highly competent professionals. These include accountants 7197 (0.86%), engineers 6,093 (0.73%), agricultural experts 3,110 (0.37%), doctors 2,464 (0.29%), computer experts 2,147 (0.25%), nurses and paramedics 1768 (0.21%), technicians 23347 (2.80%), electricians 20322 (2.44%), and schools and university faculty 1004 (0.12%). Pakistan has a total of 380 Higher Education Commission-indexed academic journals, among them 11 (2.89%) academic journals were indexed in the Web of Science and 23 journals were placed in the Web of Science emerging indexing. Among these journals, only one journal surpassed the impact factor of more than 2.0. The quartile ranking of Pakistani journals is 01 journal in Q2; 02 in Q3; and the remaining 08 journals in Q4. From August 1947 to December 2022, Pakistan produced a total of 259249 research articles, and from January 2000 to December 2022, the number of articles published was 248457 (95.83%). Since the last 22 years, the trend of research publications was continuously increased; however, the rising trend decreased in 2022 with a declined rate of 1263 (3.42%). The unstable sociopolitical environment in Pakistan caused a brain drain of highly qualified and skilled professionals and impaired the global standing of universities, academic journals, and research productivity in Pakistan. Pakistan must resolve the instability and establish sustainable policies to minimize the brain drain of highly qualified and skilled experts and convalesce their academic institutes and their research productivity for the development of the nation.

Regulating seafarers' welfare: an examination of the protection of Filipino seafarers' well-being through a legal analysis of the POEA-Standard Employment Contract.

The Philippines is the global maritime industry's single biggest source of seafarers. This article examines how the Philippines protects the welfare of its seafarers working on board ocean-going vessels. We employed a multi-method approach to better understand the POEA-SEC as a regulatory instrument. First, we analysed Philippine legislation and regulations that are shaping the employment, welfare, and working conditions of Filipino seafarers. Second, we examined the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Standard Employment Contract (POEA-SEC) which requires that minimum standards of employment for seafarers are met. We use legal analysis to examine three specific provisions that pertain to their well-being: duration of employment, monetary considerations, and working conditions in terms of hours of work and rest periods. Third, we analysed interview and focus group data on the experiences of Filipino seafarers on board ships in respect of the POEA-SEC's efficacy in protecting their well-being. Analysis of the policy environment for Filipino seafarers shows how the interests of powerful actors have taken precedence over those of Filipino seafarers. Seafarers' experiences suggest that they cannot be reached by the contract, whether symbolic or otherwise. The contract fails to address seafarer issues, such as security of tenure, excessive working hours resulting in fatigue, stress and anxiety. The POEA-SEC falls short as a legal document to address occupational, health and safety issues, which contribute to the detriment of seafarers' health and well-being. This indicates that the Philippine government cannot fully protect its seafarers.

Measures to Revitalize Overseas Employment through In-depth Study of People with Overseas Employment Experience

In order to promote overseas employment for beauty majors and successfully establish overseas employment, this study conducted an indepth study on beauty majors with overseas employment experience in English-speaking countries and analyzed the motivational factors, prior preparation, and problems of overseas employment. The purpose of the subjects' overseas employment was to accumulate experience and improve technical skills by taking on new challenges in various fields, such as learning new language related to work. The subjects studied the language through various methods, and said that preparation of practical skills was necessary. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a specialized program that allows overseas employment candidates to acquire both practical skills and language skills in a practical and systematic way. Korean beauty majors are capable of performing various procedures such as cuts, perms, and blow drying, and have delicate hand techniques and fast procedures, so they are recognized not only for their technical skills, but also in terms of beauty trends and services. This is believed to be because Korea's beauty education has developed into a segmented and organized system. However, they responded that the differences in the type of procedure, lack of experience with the equipment used, and cultural differences in performing tasks are weaknesses. In particular, it was pointed out that if you lack technical skills, you may be treated as a worker lacking both language and skills. In addition, problems such as customer complaints, racial discrimination, relatively high prices, medical emergencies, safety issues related to drugs, tax issues, and homesickness were mentioned. All subjects were satisfied with the overseas employment and said they would recommend overseas employment to their acquaintances. This is because it can be a new challenge to experience various experiences and cultures. In particular, it seems to have provided satisfaction to those who pursue an independent lifestyle due to freedom of working hours, working environment, and salary. As mentioned above, it is necessary to supplement strengths through developing language skills and practical capabilities, traits commonly identified from those who have overseas employment experience, to differentiate themselves from local hairdressers and to reduce problems in the early stages of settlement, thereby revitalizing overseas employment.

Indigenous Rodhi Culture of Gurung and Factors of its Transform at Ghandruk Kaski in Nepal

The Rodhi, a traditional cultural practice in Nepal, has lost its native form in recent years. It was popular in the Gurung community in Ghandruk, however, it is being transformed into a modern form popular in restaurants. This decline in native Rodhi is attributed to factors such as globalization, modern entertainment tools, and the shift from agriculture and animal rearing to films and dance bars. The study used qualitative data collection methods and an ethnographic study to analyze the changes in Rodhi culture. Twenty-seven participants were selected for the study, and data was collected through interviews, observations, narratives, discussions, and case studies. The findings revealed that modern entertainment tools, such as films, dance bars, Hindi and English films, hybrid music, and contemporary songs, have diverted the audience and participants from Rodhi's originality to youths. Globalization has led to cultural assimilation, with Gurungs being enlisted in services in Singapore police, Brunei reserve troops, French, British, and Indian armies have less prioritized Rodhi. Globalization encourages immigration, contemporary communication, mass media, overseas employment, cultural assimilation, and shifting traditional occupations. Cultural assimilation due to globalization confined Rodhi to nightclubs, affecting the traditional language and Rodhi culture among the Gurung community of Ghandruk. Cultural assimilation and socio-cultural effects contribute to the declination of traditional knowledge, local culture, and cultural identities like Rodhi. This study has implications for the preservation and promotion of traditional culture, benefiting cultural practitioners, activists, academicians, future researchers, and policymakers.

Situation of Brain Drain in Pakistan, with a Focus on the Healthcare Sector

In this brief, we draw attention to Pakistan with the purpose of diversifying research on brain drain of individuals who migrate from the country primarily in search of a better quality of life and institutions, particularly focusing on the healthcare sector. Brain drain in Pakistan has become a perpetually rising phenomenon with more and more highly skilled workers leaving the country, yet there is relatively less research on this group. Pakistan offers a unique insight into migration of skilled workers from developing states due to the recent economic turmoil, as well as the consequent effects on the country, the repercussions for those who remain behind, and policy instruments used to maximise benefits for all stakeholders. Brain drain in the country has led to a shortage of highly qualified medical professionals, and poor returns on investment by the government.
 INTRODUCTION
 In discussions about the flow of human capital, there is a common belief that developing countries are increasingly becoming a source of talented individuals who eventually end up in developed countries due to a lack of adequate institutions or environments in their home countries to support them. International migration benefits immigrants by allowing them to achieve a higher income and better quality of life.
 While origin countries experience an influx of remittances, increased trade and technological transfers, they also incur losses in human capital and subsequent brain drain. Despite increasing trends in brain drain, most studies on migrants’ demographics and sociology tend to neglect it.
 In this brief, we draw attention to Pakistan as a significant region to add to research and theory on studies of migration patterns in developing countries. Pakistan, we argue, exemplifies the global trend of brain drain as approximately 832,339 Pakistanis went abroad for employment in 2022, which is the highest number since 2016 and the third-highest ever recorded according to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE). Additionally, official records indicate that among those who traveled overseas in 2022, over 92,000 were graduates and more than 350,000 were trained workers and labourers (BEOE, 2022). Therefore, Pakistan -a low income country- presents a distinctive prospect to analyse a rapidly growing and diverse brain drain
 phenomenon as it offers important insights for migration scholars in comprehending the various factors associated with high-skilled worker migration, its effects on the country, the repercussions for those who remain behind, and policy instruments used to maximise benefits for all stakeholders.

The facts of return migration in the wake of COVID-19: a policy framework for reintegration of Pakistani workers

ABSTRACTThe present study investigates the adverse impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on overseas migration of Pakistani workers - both outflows and return flows. The key objective is to propose a policy framework for successful reintegration of return migrants in their origin communities. The findings reveal that around 2 million overseas Pakistanis have been affected due to COVID pandemic; 1.6 million could not go abroad and another 0.3 to 0.4 million had to return back only from the Middle East. The reintegration measures by the Government of Pakistan were mainly made on a smaller scale and most of the returnees lack information on governmental support and follow-up mechanisms. Our proposed reintegration policy framework suggests that intending or potential migrants and their families need to be educated about their reintegration or resettlement in home communities when they plan for overseas employment. The prudent use of remittances by directing them to productive investment will not only ensure successful reintegration of returning workers but will also promote entrepreneurship in the country, creating more job opportunities. The support by the government and enabling factors (district-level opportunities) will ensure various aspects of reintegration, including economic self-sufficiency, social stability, and psychosocial well-being of return migrations.

The Effects of Employment Motivation of Beauty Majors on Overseas Employment Intention: Focused on the differences between beauty major students and beauty major graduates with work experience

The purpose of this study is to examine how employment motivation of beauty majors affects overseas employment intention. For this study, 149 beauty major students and 143 beauty major graduates with work experience were surveyed. The results of this study were as follows: First, there were significant differences between students and graduates with work experience in perception of overseas employment, such as preferred countries for overseas employment (p<.05), reasons for preference (p<.05), information sources of overseas employment programs (p<.001) and preferred time for overseas employment (p<.001). Second, employment motivation of beauty majors consists of five factors: Potential for self-development, reputation of beauty salons, expectation of experience, work-life balance and monetary reward. Third, multiple regression analysis showed that only expectation of experience had a significant effect on overseas employment intention in both beauty major students and graduates with work experience.

Struggling or juggling: work-life balance challenges of Western self-initiated women expatriates in the United Arab Emirates

PurposeThis qualitative study is grounded on in-depth interviews with 30 Western women self-initiated expatriate (SIEs) currently living and working in the UAE. When selecting the interviewees, the author used purposeful sampling to ensure a diverse sample of interviewees with respect to nationality, age, gender and occupation.Design/methodology/approachThe present study, drawing on boundary theory, aims to investigate the work–life balance (WLB) of Western women SIEs regarding how these women construct and manage the borders between the non-work and work lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).FindingsThe results demonstrate that women SIEs experience conflicts and enrichment during overseas employment. Both directions – the impact flowing from working life to personal life and vice versa – were significant. Different career and life phases appeared to be crucial to these experiences. The study also found that some women SIEs in the UAE experience high pressure in the WLB approaches, which are primarily impacted by the specific work–life environment in the UAE. Mostly, work–life boundaries are culturally and socially induced. Hence, many women SIEs encounter disparities between the robust work–life separations in the home country compared to the host country; women SIEs, therefore, need to relax the boundaries to adapt to the competitive work–life environment in the UAE.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to research on work–life boundary management approaches in local settings, such as UAE, by analyzing cross-cultural and individual dimensions. Moreover, although women are still a minority among SIEs, the number of women is increasing. As prior studies have mainly focused on male SIEs, more research is required focusing specifically on women with overseas jobs. The present study endeavors to fill this research gap.

(Re) Constructing ‘Subservient’ Filipino Migrant Subjectivities

In the 1970s, the Philippine state implemented a labour-export policy to alleviate the country’s economic crisis. This policy centres the needs of employers at the expense of the rights and lives of Filipino migrants. As a consequence, many Filipino migrants find themselves in low-paying, precarious, and exploitative working conditions. However, as foreign employment of Filipino labour is tied to the state’s economic agenda, the Philippine state is caught between protecting the rights of its citizens and economic profits. In this essay, I argue that the Philippine state constructs ‘docile’ and ‘subservient’ migrant subjectivities to serve the state’s neoliberal interests. Although, as migrants learn to become acutely aware of their exploitation, they re-construct a subjectivity premised on challenging the Philippine state’s neoliberal interests through the help of transnational migrant activist groups. This essay employs a qualitative case study analysis of the Philippines’ foremost institution serving migrants, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) and the largest transnational Filipino migrant activist group, Migrante International. I use a Critical Filipino Studies (FilCrit) framework to analyze these case studies. FilCrit recognizes that the institutionalization of migration under US colonization largely influences how Filipinos are incorporated into the global economy to this day. This essay finds that the goals of the Philippine state and migrant activist groups stems from their opposing values. The Philippine state is concerned about its neoliberal agenda, while migrant activist groups are concerned with Filipino migrants’ everyday lives.

CIRCULAR LABOR MIGRATION AND GEORGIA: EXPERIENCES AND CHALLENGES

The given article will discuss the theoretical and practical issues related to the experience that has been accumulated and implemented in Georgia in the direction of circular labor migration. We will try to understand and evaluate the history of migration process passed by Georgia and its results, which we have received since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the restoration of Georgia’s independence to the present day. We will show you how the heavy memory related to migration processes affects modernity and the formation of psychotypes of labor migrants; We will talk about the differences between perceptions, expectations, working environment and conditions; What positive and negative results are expected and characteristic of similar, overseas employment systems; What changes and opportunities did visa liberalization create for the Georgian labor market; What preventive measures exist for the proper functioning of circular labor schemes; What are the examples of labor migration experience gained by different countries of the world. What risks and challenges are expected in the future in terms of labor migration in Georgia and what legal nuances need to be refined for even more flexible and measurable regulation. Based on all this, we will try to make some predictions and set the right visions for the development of labor migration policy. Keywords: circular labor migration, employment, competence, qualification/de-qualification, international labor market, visa liberalization.

Pull factors in choosing a higher education study abroad destination after the massive global immobility: A re-examination from Chinese perspectives

Chinese international students compose the largest group of full-tuition-paying students globally and are important to hosting destinations both culturally and financially. However, the obstructed international mobility caused by COVID-19 has changed their international applications. As the world gradually resumes its previous mobility level, it is important to comprehend what pull factors can effectively attract students for marketing purposes. This quantitative research re-examines the established pull factors considered and valued by prospective Chinese international students and their parents and discovered that (1) a combination of five to six factors can be sufficient for Chinese students to decide on an overseas destination, (2) cost, global rankings, and Chinese employment prospects have become the most substantial factors in destination choices, (3) opportunities for immigration and overseas employment are no longer significant, and (4) students and parents view international education with different interpretations. The marketing implications are discussed.