bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kuwait's Revised Labor Laws: Implications for National and Foreign Workers
Authors: Shah Nasra M.
Published: January 2015

Several features of the new 2010 Labor Law could have potential impacts on the indigenous as well as expatriate labor force in Kuwait. The new Law, if implemented effectively, could enhance the welfare of all workers, including non-nationals. The elimination of the kafala or sponsorship system and regulation of foreign worker inflow by an independent authority may reduce visa trading and cost to migrant workers. Transfer from one employer to another may also become easier. More Kuwaiti women may be motivated to join the workforce due to increased benefits. Despite good intentions, effective implementation of many of the laws will not be easy.
The Politics, Subjectivities and Connectivities of Transnational Migration in East Asia
Authors: Huang Shirlena , Lee Sang Kook , Hayes Mike
Published: January 2015

Migration into, out of, and within East Asia (comprising Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia) will undoubtedly increase as we continue into the twenty-first century. We need sustained research to provide fresh insights into transnational migrants' changing subjective positions and power as they move in/out of East Asia, constructing complex social locations as they live their lives transnationally. The papers in this special issue focus on three issues that are of pertinence to the transnational migrations and the resulting migrant transnationalisms of those who move for work, education, marriage and retirement, and as refugees, in the context of East Asia: the power structures (including the institutional regulatory frameworks of sending and receiving societies) within which migrants must operate; migrants' multiple and shifting social positions as they move; and the transnational connections and networks they maintain over the course of their migration journeys.
The Transnationality of Culture: Policy Implications for the Integration of Migrants in South Korea
Authors: Shin Julia Jiwon
Published: January 2015

This paper discusses the policy implications of the transnationality of culture for the integration of migrants. It seeks to draw attention to the significance of a transnational perspective on migration, which challenges policymakers to look beyond national borders in analyzing the scope, purpose and impact of their policies. Bringing the transnationality of culture into the discussion of migrant integration policy, the paper examines recent policy discourses on multiculturalism and the integration of migrants in South Korea. It considers a number of core aspects of migrant integration that should be taken into account in the policy paradigm that could shed light on ‘methodological nationalism’ and reflect the transnational facet of international migration.
Recent Chinese Migration to Vietnam
Authors: Van Chinh Nguyen
Published: January 2015

Based on fieldwork conducted in various locations in Vietnam, this article examines the different types of Chinese migration to Vietnam since the normalization of Vietnam-China relations in 1990. The article notes differences between the old and new Chinese migration. Recent Chinese migration is characterized by the diversity in the composition of migrants. Furthermore, recent Chinese migration is fuelled by the government's “go-out strategy” and is closely linked with increasing flows of investments, economic aid, trade and culture from China.
Chinese Migration to Singapore: Discourses and Discontents in a Globalizing Nation-State
Authors: Yeoh Brenda S.A. , Lin Weiqiang
Published: January 2015

Changing economic realities in the last decade have seen the People's Republic of China (PRC) emerging as a major source of ‘new’ migrants in the world. In the context of Southeast Asia as ‘destination,’ inflows from the PRC take on another level of significance given the historical antecedents. In this article, we take Singapore, a Southeast Asian global city-state, as a case study of how Chinese migration histories and circumstances have evolved through time. While colonialism has left the city-state with a large ethnic Chinese population that persists till today, Singapore's present-day aspirations to become a globally oriented, open economy have led to a new round of transnational migration, where PRC nationals feature prominently. Focusing on the streams of people moving from China to Singapore in the past and present, a comprehensive range of developments surrounding the said mobilities will be examined. These include a short historical account of Singapore's, and more generally Southeast Asia's, longstanding exchange with China; regulatory regimes that govern Singapore's immigration policies today; the typologies and varied characteristics of modern Chinese migrants gracing the city-state's doorsteps; and social tensions arising from these contemporary PRC flows into Singapore sitting uncomfortably between being predominantly ‘Chinese’ and ‘anti-Chinese.’ A few reflections follow as a means to conclude this paper.
The Globalization of Tertiary Education and Intra-Asian Student Mobility: Mainland Chinese Student Mobility to Malaysia
Authors: Diana Wong , Wen Ooi Pei
Published: January 2015

Intra-Asian student mobility is an emerging phenomenon little studied in the literature on the globalization of tertiary education. This paper examines the flow of students from the People's Republic of China to Malaysia, based on a large-scale survey of 888 respondents, as well as in-depth interviews with 80 informants. It addresses three empirical questions: who comes, why Malaysia and what are the outcomes? Underlying these questions is the issue of the character of contemporary intra-Asian educational mobility, and the specificity of regional sites, such as Malaysia, in the global educational spatial order. The paper makes two main arguments. Firstly, this trans-Asian education mobility is largely circular in nature and represents the private-sector creation of a new industry and market, with commercialized market knowledge facilitating the rise of non-elite mass mobility from cities in the interior with no prior migration ties to the destination country. The key role of professional brokerage or education agents in enabling and channeling student mobility from China to hitherto “unknown” destinations such as Malaysia is critical in this respect. Secondly, notwithstanding the commercialization of such flows, ethnicity and religion remains important in channeling the demand for international education to regional hubs such as Malaysia. This is evidenced by the disproportionate numbers of Chinese Muslims among the students from China, for whom the fact that Malaysia was a Muslim country was a key selection factor.
Does Having a Migrant Parent Reduce the Risk of Undernutrition for Children Who Stay behind in South-East Asia?
Authors: Graham Elspeth , Jordan Lucy P.
Published: January 2015

Many parents from South-East Asia who go overseas to work are motivated by a desire to secure a better future for their children, yet the health consequences for children who stay behind are poorly understood. This study is the first cross-country comparison to explore the relationships between parental migration and the risk of undernutrition (stunting) for primary school-aged children. The analysis uses data from the CHAMPSEA Project for children aged 9 to 11 years in the Philippines (N = 480) and Vietnam (N = 482). A series of logistic regression models compares outcomes for children living in transnational households and children living with both parents in non-migrant households in the same communities.
Regional Pathways: Transnational Imaginaries, Infrastructures and Implications of Student Mobility within Asia
Authors: Collins Francis L.
Published: January 2015

This paper offers a critical analysis of the narratives of South Korean international students attending universities in the Asian region. It draws in particular on a transnational approach to understanding these mobilities that highlights the imaginaries that generate a desire to be mobile among students, the social and institutional infrastructures that enable mobility, and the implications of student mobility for students' future aspirations and identities. Through this approach, the paper offers a starting point for exploring what is an understudied dimension of international education – the increasing number of international students who are choosing to study in Asia rather than in traditional western destinations. The transnational approach taken in this paper also opens up analytical space for understanding student mobility as a social and geographic process that relies on the creative agency of students and their families, but also social networks of friends, alumni and teachers, and the work of institutional actors in piecing together the possibilities for mobility in the region. In this regard, the paper also draws attention to the imbrication of student flows in the emergence of an increasingly interconnected Asia, one that is articulated in the career pathways of graduating students, their identities and their sense of place in a regional future.
Class Borders: Chinese and South Asian Canadian Professional Women Navigating the Labor Market
Authors: Gupta Tania Das , Man Guida , Mirchandani Kiran , Ng Roxana
Published: January 2015

This paper discusses some of the results of a study aimed at exploring how highly skilled professional immigrant women from China and India, two of the top source countries of immigration to Canada since 1998, learned to reorient and reshape their skills, experiences, and aspirations in order to secure employment. Drawing on Bourdieu's notion of class as relational space, his differentiation of forms of capital and his concept of habitus, we explore ways in which these women mobilize the resources they have at their disposal transnationally in order to realign their class position in Canada. Issues of gender and race are also incorporated into the discussion of class.
How Much Do Low-Skilled Immigrants Contribute to the Thai Economy?: Analysis of Three Methodologies
Authors: Pholphirul Piriya , Kamlai Jongkon
Published: January 2015

This paper uses three methodologies to measure the economic impacts and contribution of low-skilled immigration in Thailand, namely, simulation of a macroeconomic model, a growth accounting method, and an econometric method. Both the macroeconomic simulation model and the growth accounting method confirm that immigrants have contributed around 0.75–1 percentage point of real GDP growth. The sector that benefited most was agriculture, where immigrant workers contributed more than 1.33 percent of the growth rate of agricultural production. Our econometric results also showed that a percentage increase of immigrant share (of the total labor force or M/L) also contributed to a reduction of overall labor productivity in the manufacturing sector (by about 0.88–1percent) and the service sector (by about 1.35 percent). In addition, the calculation of the Allen partial elasticity (AES) confirms that there is a high substitution effect between immigrants and natives, especially in the low-skilled sector. Our simulation shows that employing immigrants in the agricultural sector tends to reduce total employment by 0.67 percent and reduce wage rates by around 4.34 percent from the base case. Thailand needs to consider the short-term and long-term implications of bringing in immigrant labor.
On Mobility and Fertility Transitions in East and Southeast Asia
Authors: Skeldon Ronald
Published: January 2015

The relationship between fertility and mobility is examined with reference to Zelinsky's mobility transition hypothesis. Five Asian countries (Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, China) at different stages of development and mobility transition are compared with respect to shifting sectoral patterns of migration and changing levels of fertility. National trends suggest that the development sequence proposed by Zelinsky on the basis of the European experience does not generally apply to Asia. In four out of five cases examined, fertility declined before substantial urbanization took place. Zelinsky's sequence of mobility change should be modified to fit the experience of developing countries, but the importance of the interrelationship between fertility decline and mobility change remains.
Micronesian Migration to Guam: Social and Economic Characteristics
Authors: Rubinstein Donald H. , Levin Michael J.
Published: January 2015

The recent lowering of some obstacles to the migration of Micronesians to Guam has resulted in a sudden influx of migrants. In a short time, Guam has experienced many of the impacts associated with large scale migration on population growth, provision of services and the issue of ethnic assimilation. An extensive demographic profile of newly settled migrants is presented, followed by a discussion of future implications. Micronesian migration is expected to grow, encouraging the formation of nucleated ethnic communities, a sizeable working class, and social costs and potential ethnic conflict that will draw increasing attention from the Guam government.
Migrant Labor Absorption in Malaysia
Authors: Nayagam James
Published: January 2015

Malaysia's labor shortages can be attributed to rapid industrialization; higher educational attainment leading to external and internal migration and labor shortages; and poor wages and working conditions in plantations, the construction industry and the service sector. Such shortages have been met largely through the use of illegal migrant workers from Indonesia, south Thailand and the southern Philippines. Implementation of the government's plan for economic restructuring, 1971–1990, was assisted by such workers; however, the government has also recognized the socioeconomic problems engendered by illegal migration. Policies to facilitate temporary labor migration in key sectors are being developed.
Social Security Protection of Migrant Workers
Authors: Rivera Mauricio M.
Published: January 2015

Issues related to social security protection are discussed from the point of view of the sending country as well as the receiving country. Common problems include equality of treatment between nationals and non-nationals, inadequacy of coverage, and the status of workers with multiple foreign employment. The social security programs of 36 Asia-Pacific countries are compared and recommendations made to increase the protection available to migrant workers in the region. Ratification of ILO conventions and the establishment of bilateral/multilateral agreements are stressed.
Clandestine Migrant Workers in Japan
Authors: Nagayama Toshikazu
Published: January 2015

Illegal migration in Japan is a recent phenomenon, resulting from restrictive labor import policies and shortages accompanying economic restructuring. Labor policies, regulations, types of immigration violations, and the role of the recruitment industry are described. Most of the estimated 200,000 illegal workers are employed in small and medium sized enterprises, especially construction and manufacturing, which pay them wages well below the normal rate. A key issue is the infringement of human rights of these illegal workers, who lack the protection of labor laws and the social security system.
Potential Movements of Capital and Labor in Northeast Asia
Authors: Kim Won Bae
Published: January 2015

This paper provides background information for potential movements of capital and labor within Northeast Asia. First, it reviews recent geopolitical changes in Northeast Asia and the current state of capital and labor movements between the countries of Northeast Asia along the broad theme of regional cooperation. Second, the paper assesses potential movements of capital and labor in the near future based on planned or anticipated development projects in the region. Finally, political and social barriers to movements of capital and labor and some measures to facilitate such factor movements are discussed.
Hiring and Localization Policies of Transnational Corporations in Thailand
Authors: Kaosa-Ard Mingsarn Santikarn
Published: January 2015

This article assesses the effectiveness of policies adopted by transnational corporations (TNCs) concerning the hiring of local staff and localization of top management positions in Thailand. A boom in direct foreign investment in Thailand since the mid-1980s has created a strong demand for engineering and technical staff. In view of the shortage of local supply, skill formation and training programs for local employees at all levels are emphasized. Differences in policy among Japanese, American and European TNCs are noted, with localization noticeably less likely among Japanese TNCs.
The Social Effects and Institutional Structure of Immigration in New Zealand in the 1980s
Authors: Trlin Andrew D.
Published: January 2015

From the perspective of social demography, selected changes in social roles, formal organizations and social stratification arising from immigration in New Zealand during the 1980s are identified and explained. It is argued, however, that both immigration and its social effects were deeply influenced by the nature and operation of the society's institutional structure of immigration. This structure consists in its ideal form of three main interrelated and complementary components — an immigration policy, an immigrant policy and an ethnic relations policy — that enhance the selectivity of immigration, shape public perceptions, set up safeguards for social interaction and provide for required adjustments between the host and immigrant populations. An examination of New Zealand's institutional structure in the 1980s reveals defects in all three policy areas, defects which were directly related to migrant adjustment difficulties and to less desirable social effects of immigration observed or experienced by New Zealanders.
Human Rights and International Relations: Morality, Law, and Politics
Authors: Hsiung James C.
Published: January 2015

In reassessing the evolution of the post-1945 human rights movement, the paper identifies three “waves” or genres of human rights, generally representing the divisions between the Western and non-Western nations on the subject. A number of serious problems are raised, such as “double standards” maintained by some countries concerning human rights. This is followed by an evaluation of the possible clash between two perspectives: (a) the Third World's advocacy of such collective economic rights as a developing nation's right to sustained development (with its attendant demand that the West has to pay for its past colonization); and (b) the West's obstinancy regarding the individuals' rights to be asserted against their governments. In the age of intensified complex interdependence, a growing feature is the interpenetration of the economies of nations. That by necessity makes the migrant workers an “interface” between rich and poor economies. As economic interdependence deepens, both labor-importing and labor-sending countries have common stakes in the protection of the migrant workers.
The Role of NGOs in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Asia
Authors: Dias Clarence J.
Published: January 2015

Asian NGOs operate within a diverse and complex reality that spans the broadest ranges on the political, social and cultural spectra. This article traces the emergence of Asian NGOs from this reality and describes their relationship to social and intellectual movements, examining the interaction among professionals, intellectuals and activists. The article then outlines the roles of Asian NGOs in the protection and promotion of human rights. Conventional roles of standard-setting, promotion, monitoring and enforcement are discussed, as well as special roles in respect of conscientization and organization of marginalized and disadvantaged groups. Finally, some of the dilemmas presently confronting Asian human rights NGOs are examined.
The Human Rights of Migrant Workers: Agenda for NGOs
Authors: Battistella Graziano
Published: January 2015

The International Conference on the Human Rights of Migrant Workers: Agenda for NGOs, organized by the Scalabrini Migration Center in cooperation with the International Labour Organisation, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Missio, took place in Manila on 19–20 November 1992.

More than 30 speakers from Asian countries, the U.S. and Europe contributed to the program attended by approximately 100 representatives of nongovernmental organizations involved with the assistance and protection of overseas contract workers.
Introduction
Authors: Abella Manolo I.
Published: January 2015

The articles that are contained in this special issue of APMJ came from papers commissioned by the ILO and presented at the Conference on Turning Points in International Labour Migration in April 1993, co organized with the Korea Labor Institute and the United Nations University.
Internationational Labor Movements, Trade Flows and Migration Transitions: A Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Nayyar Deepak
Published: January 2015

This article presents a theoretical analysis of how the processes of industrialization and development interact with international trade in goods or services to influence a country's turning point from labor exporter to labor importer. It is concluded that trade in goods complements capital movements but substitutes for labor movements, whereas trade in services and labor movements complement each other. The proposed analytical framework suggests that both international trade and migration may contribute to, but cannot lead to, a development process that brings about a migration transition in surplus labor economies.
An Eclectic Approach to Turning Points in Migration
Authors: Fong Pang Eng
Published: January 2015

The eclectic approach to migration transition presented in this article emphasizes that a country's net migration position evolves as it develops, but in ways that reflect its initial economic and sociocultural conditions and subsequent policies and economic progress. Not one but several turning points exist, influenced by economic factors such as level of development, wage differentials, and trade and investment ties, as well as social and institutional factors such as a nation's homogeneity and its migration policies. To exemplify, the migration experiences of various Asia-Pacific countries are compared.
The Lewisian Turning Point and International Migration: The Case of Japan
Authors: Watanabe Susumu
Published: January 2015

This article critically examines the Lewisian turning point in light of Japan's experience since the mid-1800s. Japan reached its Lewisian turning point around 1960. Contrary to the assumptions of the theory however, the findings for Japan indicate that political factors have been more determinative of the rate of migration than purely economic ones. Prior to its turning point in 1960, international relations, war and forced repatriation were the decisive factors. Recently, though the inflow of foreign workers to fill labor shortages has increased, so also has the outflow of Japanese to accompany direct foreign investment. DFI itself is more responsive to trade barriers, exchange rates and incentives offered by host governments than to differing wage levels or labor market conditions.
Turning Points in International Labor Migration: A Case Study of Thailand
Authors: Vasuprasat Pracha
Published: January 2015

This article describes the dynamics of the structural transformation of the Thai economy, labor migration and direct foreign investment and proposes an econometric model to explain the migration phenomenon. Though migration shifts have been significantly influenced by political factors such as the Gulf crisis and tensions with Saudi Arabia, economic factors such as the Thai government's liberalization of markets and the expansion of trade and direct foreign investment have contributed to changes in labor market needs. The economic conditions for a shift from net exporter to net importer of labor are posited in the model. The empirical results reveal a turning point in labor migration from Thailand and also confirm the contribution of commodity export in place of labor export in creating employment and income.
Migration from India to Australia
Authors: Awasthi S.P. , Chandra Ashoka
Published: January 2015

The article examines the contemporary trends and future prospects of migration from India to Australia. The focus is on Indian Settlers and Temporary Entrants admitted to Australia for employment and Indian students admitted to Australia for higher studies. The volume of emigration for permanent residence during the early 1990s has made India one of the leading source countries of migration to Australia. A majority of Indians admitted as Settlers every year join the labor force. Recent data indicate that, among Indian Settlers, there is a preponderance of unsponsored Independent Skilled Migrants. Given the anticipated growth in the number of Indian students, the coming years are likely to witness a spurt in Skilled Temporary Workers from India.
Migrant Workers and Labor Market Segmentation in Japan
Authors: Mori Hiromi
Published: January 2015

Segmentation of the migrant work force in Japan is determined largely by institutional factors put in place by the 1990 Immigration Law Reform. In contrast to conventional discussions which compare migrant workers with native workers, this discussion focuses on the segmentation of the labor market among migrant workers themselves. These workers form an ethnically diverse mass in the Japanese labor market today. They are diverse not only in the time of arrival and other characteristics but also in terms of treatment under Japan's immigration control practice. This discussion describes the nature of labor market segmentation among migrant workers and examines the reasons for differentiated working conditions.
Hidden Foreign Exchange Flows: Estimating Unofficial Remittances to Tonga and Western Samoa
Authors: Brown Richard P.C.
Published: January 2015

This article shows how sample survey data from both the remitting and receiving ends can be used to derive estimates of total remittances by migrants from Tonga and Western Samoa, including those sent through unofficial channels. Such survey data can provide a wealth of information on the variety of forms and channels of remittances used by migrants, from which it is possible to assess the quantitative and qualitative significance of these hidden international resource flows. Unrecorded remittances are found to constitute a highly significant part of total remittances to these Pacific island countries. It is argued that current account estimates from official balance of payments data in these situations need to be treated with extreme caution, especially in the context of macroeconomic analysis and policy formulation.
From Consumption to Savings? Interpreting Tongan and Western Samoan Sample Survey Data on Remittances
Authors: Walker Adrian , Brown Richard P.C.
Published: January 2015

This article examines the findings of an analysis of sample survey data on the uses and determinants of remittances among Tongan and Western Samoan households. These surveys were undertaken at both the receiving and remitting ends of the process, and bring forth important evidence that remittances are not used exclusively for consumption purposes and play an important role in contributing to both savings and investment in the migrant sending countries. It also shows that remittances appear not to be driven exclusively by altruistic sentiments and the need for family support, but also, among some migrant categories, by the motivation to invest. There appears to be substantial scope for policy intervention on the part of Pacific island governments to increase the flows of remittances into their economies.
Migration and the Family: The Female Perspective
Authors: Zlotnik Hania
Published: January 2015

This article shows that a family perspective is especially important for the analysis of female migration because: (1) women are major participants in “family migration” as defined by governments and, although they benefit from family reunification provisions, they are also constrained by them; (2) migrant women are important economic actors and their participation in economic activity is closely related to the needs of their families, so that the choices that migrant women make regarding work cannot be understood without taking into account the situation of their families and women's roles within them; (3) women are increasingly becoming migrant workers in order to improve the economic status of their families; and (4) women rely on their families to provide various types of support that both make migration possible and condition its outcome. A review of the literature provides evidence supporting each of these observations.
Training or Employment? Japanese Immigration Policy in Dilemma
Authors: Oishi Nana
Published: January 2015

This article examines the Japanese training system for foreign workers from developing countries. While providing foreign trainees with the opportunities to acquire skills and knowledge at enterprises, the system concurrently serves as an adjustment function in the labor market. Many small- and medium-sized enterprises largely in manufacturing the sector accept trainees to cope with labor shortages as well as to gain a foothold for their future business operations overseas. Various studies have shown that there exist a substantial number of abusive cases where training is not provided properly. The fundamental problem derives from the gap between a strict immigration policy and the Japanese economy's structural dependence on foreigners. A clear national consensus must be established on whether or not Japan should accept semi- and unskilled foreign labor. The immigration policy should reflect this in formulating its long-term vision. The training system needs reformation to fulfill its functions appropriately and to protect trainees from abuse.
China's Export of Labor and its Management
Authors: Shengjin Wang
Published: January 2015

This research note presents trends and data on China's labor export from 1979–1991. By 1990, China had deployed over 400,000 workers in 139 countries and regions, with labor export becoming an important source of foreign exchange. Data include China's contract value and number of workers annually; international distribution of Chinese workers; comparative figures for construction; contractors and labor cooperatives; and China's labor exports by corporation.
Chinese Capitalist Migration to Canada: A Sociological Interpretation and its Effect on Canada
Authors: Wong Lloyd L.
Published: January 2015

This article examines Chinese capitalist migration from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Canada which took place under the auspices of the Canadian Business Immigration Program. It begins by setting the context of this migration of Chinese capitalists and their capital through a description of the Program and applying sociological theory to explain the process. More specifically, structural models of migration, world systems, political economy and transnationalism are applied which provide an insight and explanation for this migration. Then the role of the state is examined in relation to mediation and social reproduction. The article ends with a trend analysis of this Chinese capitalist migration and its effect on class, cultural transformation, and race and ethnic relations in Canada.
Micro-Enterprise Development Schemes as Effective Reintegration Assistance Programs for Voluntarily-Repatriated Vietnamese Asylum Seekers
Authors: Nickerson Joshua B.
Published: January 2015

From the creation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) in 1989 through December 1994, about sixty-eight thousand asylum seekers have voluntarily repatriated to Vietnam. In response to this reverse migration, the international community has funded numerous reintegration assistance programs to facilitate the asylum seekers' return. This article examines reintegration assistance programs currently operating in Vietnam and presents an argument that small scale income generation projects constitute the most effective and efficient use of scarce repatriation funding.
International Labor Migration of Asian Women: Distinctive Characteristics and Policy Concerns
Authors: Lim Lin Lean , Oishi Nana
Published: January 2015

The feminization of women in international labor migration has been most pronounced in the case of Asia, with women moving in their own right as economic migrants and faced with regulatory and social constraints, gender discrimination and exploitation in countries of origin and destination. Asian countries, both sending and receiving, have been experimenting with gender-sensitive migration policies and programs. This paper describes the characteristics of Asian female labor migration, examines policy dimensions and suggests action to bridge the gaps between policy dimensions and implementation.
Migrant Women Domestic Workers in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Cheng Shu-Ju Ada
Published: January 2015

The concentration of women in certain occupations has been the main feature characterizing the feminization of migration in the Asian region during the last two decades. A gender-sensitive approach is essential in understanding the particular vulnerability facing these migrant women workers. This paper is concerned with the situation of migrant women domestic workers in East and Southeast Asia. It discusses the context of housework that has rendered migrant women domestic workers vulnerable to abuses and violence. It compares and contrasts the legal systems in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan and addresses the inadequacy of the respective legal systems in dealing with the vulnerability of these women workers. Using Hong Kong as a case, it discusses the measures that have been adopted to provide better protection for migrant labor. This paper suggests that, in order to provide effective protection for the rights of these women, it is important for respective governments to take into account the particular vulnerability facing them as a result of the context of their employment.
Prospects for Cooperative Management of International Migration in the 21st Century
Authors: Miller Mark J. , Martin Philip L.
Published: January 2015

This essay attempts, first, to identify patterns and trends from an overview of the modern history of international migration. It examines, then, aspects of human agency and macro-systemic factors to sift for clues as to the future role of international migration and prospects for cooperation management of it. Finally, specific features of the regional migration system in Asia are identified, which will contribute to shape the future course of international migration.
Labor Contracting in International Migration: The Japanese Case and Implications for Asia
Authors: Okunishi Yoshio
Published: January 2015

Labor contracting in Japan is under relatively strict regulations which comply with some key ILO conventions. However, the applicability to labor contracting from/to overseas is limited. Many foreign workers coming to Japan use foreign or Japanese intermediaries whose activities are illegal. But the specifics differ appreciably according to the types of migrants. The vulnerability of migrants seems to be affected by several factors such as: the income disparity between their home country and the destination country, the costs of migrating, their work status, and the costs of job search and the extent of voluntary labor turnover in the destination country. In this regard, conditions in Asia may make for vulnerable migrants and profitable brokers.
Foreign Workers Recruiting Policies in Japan
Authors: Nagayama Toshikazu
Published: January 2015

This article presents the basic characteristics of the foreign workers recruiting policy in Japan, which consists on barring entry to unskilled workers, and confronts it with the actual tolerance for a large number of illegal unskilled workers. After a historical overview of the reasons for the current policy, the article examines elements which reveal that a seclusionist policy is based on mistaken assumptions and reviews policy options to deal with the issue of illegal migration.
Recruiting and Managing of Foreign Workers in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Joseph S. , Wang Su-Wan
Published: January 2015

The first part of this article reviews the reasons for a labor migration policy in Taiwan and the characteristics of foreign workers currently employed in the country. The second part examines the procedures and practices for recruiting and managing labor migrants and explores the reasons for the biggest issue in the Taiwanese labor migration policy: the runaway foreign workers. Admitting that illegal migration cannot be controlled, the paper recommends to limit employment of migrants only where it is absolutely necessary.
Economic Interdependence and Migration Dynamics in Asia
Authors: Kim Won Bae
Published: January 2015

This paper searches first for alternative explanations about migration dynamics and, in particular, the migration transition in Asian countries. It raises the question whether increasing economic interdependence will increase labor mobility and attempts to explain the association between them with a simple model. Countries in the region are divided in three groups with regard to international labor migration: transitional, non-transitional exporters, and non-transitional importers. Increasing economic integration will lead to migration transition for many Asian countries, but with uncertainties concerning in particular China and South Asia.
Regulation and Resistance: Strategies of Migrant Domestic Workers in Canada and Internationally
Authors: Stasiulis Daiva K. , Bakan Abigail B.
Published: January 2015

While the Canadian program for migrant domestic workers offers among the best conditions internationally, it shares two features in common with worldwide policies and treatment of foreign household workers. These are: 1) the inherent asymmetry in citizenship statuses and rights of employers and their domestic employees; and 2) the expectation that employees will ‘live in’ their employers' homes. Enforcement of rights of foreign domestics is also complicated by shared, yet ambiguous jurisdiction over foreign domestics of the federal and provincial governments. These conditions render foreign domestic workers vulnerable to all forms of abuse. They have not been eliminated despite impressive organizing and advocacy among these migrant workers and their allies. The challenges of finding adequate protection against abuse by domestic workers in Canada and elsewhere are explored by examining the policies of labor sending and labor receiving countries, and international conventions. A significant development in domestic workers organizations is the linking of campaigns for migrant worker rights to global efforts to address the causes of unemployment and migration.
Eight Centuries of Madurese Migration to East Java
Authors: Husson Laurence
Published: January 2015

Over the past eight centuries in Indonesia, a substantial and ceaseless stream of out-migration has been flowing from the tiny island of Madura, poor and overpopulated, to the slightly better-off, but just as overpopulated as the island of Java. This out-migration to East Java of the Madurese — Indonesia's third largest ethnic group — is one of the group's most notable features. Over the centuries, this out-migration has taken diverse forms as it has responded to varied impetus and reflects Indonesia's diverse migratory currents, past and present. This article, which is the first to be done on the subject, explores a little known aspect of Madurese history and society.
Balancing Obligations and Self-Interest: Humanitarian Program Settlers in the Australian Labor Market
Authors: Stevens Christine
Published: January 2015

Technological and structural changes in the Australian economy have led to a decline in unskilled and semi-skilled employment and this has had a marked effect on labor market opportunities for immigrants. Educational qualifications and English language skills have become increasingly important factors influencing labor market success. With absorptive capacity for the overall immigration program defined more in economic terms, changes have been made to the selection criteria for immigrants. Greater priority is currently given to those with skills and English language proficiency. No such emphasis has been given to the selection criteria for settlers admitted under Australia's humanitarian program. This paper reviews the labor market experience of humanitarian program arrivals and considers the policy implications of high levels of unemployment among this group. It is suggested that humanitarian obligations do not end with entry to Australia, and it is in the interests of the receiving society and humanitarian program arrivals for greater public investment in skills development to help improve labor market outcomes among this group.
Quantitative International Migration Data for Thailand: An Overview
Authors: Stern Aaron
Published: January 2015

This paper reviews the main characteristics of migration data for movements into and out of Thailand. It considers only international migration and it covers the following areas: 1) who collects and disseminates international migration data for Thailand; 2) what sorts of data are available; and 3) what are the major characteristics of these data. It is designed as a guide for persons using Thai migration data to help them interpret these data more clearly. The Thai government is the main collector and distributor of Thailand's international migration data, particularly the Ministry of Interior and the Central Statistical Office (administrators of the national population census). Other organizations such as academic research centers, non-governmental organizations, and foreign governments collect and disseminate Thai migration data on a smaller scale. The paper concludes with some brief suggestions about how to improve migration data collection and dissemination in Thailand.
The Gendered Social Organization of Migration as Work
Authors: Salaff Janet W.
Published: January 2015

Borrowing concepts from the study of work and occupations as well as gender studies, this paper considers the social organization of migration as gendered work. It explores women's and men's contribution to two aspects of family resources needed to migrate: (a) jobs and the non-market exchanges involved in obtaining work, and (b) the support of kin. The data come from a study of 30 emigrant and non-emigrant families representing three social classes in Hong Kong. We find their “migration work” varies by social class and gender. Since the working class families depend on kin to get resources to emigrate, their “migration work” involves maintaining these kin ties, mainly in the job area. The lower middle class proffer advice to kin, and they view kin as an information source on topics including migration. For the affluent, middle-class who negotiate independently to emigrate, their “migration work” involves linking colleagues to the family.
Feelings of Fraternity in Canada: An Empirical Exploration of Regional Differences
Authors: Laczko Leslie S.
Published: January 2015

How are feelings of fraternity distributed within nation-states? This paper deals with the status dimension of ethnic stratification in Canada, and specifically with the way comfort levels with a whole range of ethno-national group labels vary between Canadian regions. Previous research found that the Canadian population gives the highest status evaluations to those of British origin, with evaluations following a downward gradient through various European origins, with the lowest evaluations being reserved for “non-whites.” This article presents further analyses of data from the 1991 Canadian Multiculturalism and Citizenship attitude survey (N=3,325). Detailed breakdowns of comfort levels are presented for Canada's main regions, and special attention paid to patterns evident in Canada's three largest cities, namely Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. The lowest comfort levels with most group labels are displayed in Quebec, and the highest levels are displayed in British Columbia. Since the latter province was the setting of much anti-Asian agitation in earlier decades, and has been a major destination for Asian immigration to Canada in recent decades, this regional difference is an interesting aspect of the current Canadian scene. These findings are set against the backdrop of other research on regional differences in Canada.
Homeland — Diaspora Relations: From Passive to Active Interactions
Authors: Skrbiš Zlatko
Published: January 2015

This paper examines a range of interactions which takes place between diasporas and homelands, focusing particularly on nationalism and politics. In the age of globalization such interactive processes can easily be (and often are) taken for granted. Despite this taken-for-grantedness, the author argues that these processes produce less than uniform impacts and should therefore not be referred to uncritically. It is essential to understand the shifting dynamics in transnational interaction, particularly in the field of diaspora research.

To elaborate on this point, the paper analyzes post-Second World War interactive processes between the Australian Croatian diaspora and the Croatian homeland. It will be shown that construction of the homeland by the members of the diaspora is an ongoing process closely related to a variety of social and political factors surrounding homeland developments. In addition, this paper explores how migrants' sentiments towards their homeland shape their social identities.
National Multiculturalism and Transnational Migrant Politics: Australian and East Timorese
Authors: Goodman James
Published: January 2015

As globalization accelerates, transnational pressures play an increasingly important role in political culture. Cultural linkages created by migration can be sustained and reproduced, allowing migrant groupings to maintain a role as movers for social change. Such linkages open up possibilities for mutual engagement or dialogue across the external-internal boundaries of national statehood. These issues are illustrated by the relatively small East Timorese refugee community living in Australia, which has forged a distinctive diasporic identity and has successfully invoked a transnational sphere of politics around issues of self-determination, human rights and multiculturalism. In tandem, many non-Timorese have questioned Australian commitment to these principles within Australia as well as in relation to East Timor. This process of transnational contestation leads to the emergence of cross-national communities of conscience, and points to the possibility of multicultural interaction beyond national borders.
Hong Kong Labor Market in the Aftermath of the Crisis: Implications for Foreign Workers
Authors: Sek-Hong Ng , Lee Grace O.M.
Published: January 2015

Hong Kong suffered economically and socially from the Asian financial crisis. Due to the speculative attack on the Hong Kong dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar, businesses suffered from tight liquidity and high interest rates. The stock market as well as the property market plunged by more than 40 percent in less than nine months. Tourism and other consumption-related sectors such as retail and restaurants also suffered as a result of the depreciation of currencies in Japan and other Southeast Asian countries. Poor business performance led to mass lay-offs and retrenchment. However, the local workers rather than the guest workers were more adversely affected by the crisis. In spite of the guest workers' apparent marginality in the labor market, there have been hardly any reports of en masse retrenchment and repatriation of these workers. However, the chances of guest workers to obtain employment in Hong Kong may be on the downturn.