Nepal: Migration and Development in South Asia

Dev Raj Dahal
Head, FES Nepal

Introduction: The new globalization reflects unorganized movement of workers while 19th century globalization was better organized as the states did not restrict the movement of workers. Now almost 3 percent of world's workers are on move. Though the state rules prevent the migration of workers but fosters the process of the globalization of capital, technology, knowledge and marketable goods. Developed countries demand more skilled workers which are in short supply in developing countries while the Gulf region and fastest growing economies demand all types of migrants. Brain drain has also reduced the stock of the nation's human capital and created development gap between the two where the developed countries defines the rules of game while developing countries have to adjust. Due to concentration of power and resources in urban notes there is a mass migration of people from rural to urban areas and even out migration. This is integrating various peoples into monoculture or mass civilization. Read more

The End of the Immigration Boom?

The relatively free movement of labor across borders for the last few decades has generally had a positive impact on many countries because of the large remittances sent home by expatriates. In India, Kerala has been the biggest beneficiary, its relative prosperity sustained by its sons and daughters toiling away in West Asia or in hospitals around the world. But it looks like the global recession is beginning to seriously hurt international migration, and many migrants are forced to go home again.

Immigration is a sensitive issue, and passions run high, often bringing out the worst in people: and racism surely is a part of it. An Indian immigrant named Navtej Singh Sidhu was set on fire while sleeping on a park bench in Italy recently. Racist violence against Roma (or Gypsies) is increasing -- although they have lived in Europe for centuries, they are discriminated against as outsiders and non-whites. Russian skinheads were convicted of killing 20 migrants – mostly non-whites.
Read more

LABOUR-SRI LANKA: Gloomy Prospects in 2009

By Feizal Samath

COLOMBO, Jan 2 (IPS) - If the global financial crisis slams the brakes on worker remittances from the Middle East, Sri Lanka’s top foreign exchange earner, it could severely exacerbate this country’s economic woes, analysts say.

Shrinking oil incomes in the Middle East have already affected the construction industry and the real estate business in which tens of thousands of Sri Lankans are employed.

‘’There are at least 25,000 to 30,000 Sri Lankans in construction work in Dubai alone. They could lose their jobs, their salaries could get delayed or not be paid at all,’’ said Suraj Dandeniya, former president of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) of Sri Lanka.
Read more

IRELAND: Migrants earning as little as €2 an hour

By Anne-Marie Walsh Industry Correspondent

Wednesday December 17 2008

MORE than half of migrants who work in restaurants earn less than the minimum wage and the majority get no overtime or Sunday pay.

A new report has revealed that some workers earn just €2 an hour and some work up to 75 hours a week.

The Migrant Rights Centre last night said the study showed some of the worst abuses of employment rights.

It called on the government to take immediate action to end exploitation in the industry. Read more