The Migrant Worker Dilemma
Thousands of South Asians and Southeast Asians pour into Japan and the newly industrialized countries (NICs) in search of work each year. Labour migration is a world phenomenon, but national governments have failed to respond and even people's movements have not formulated coherent perspectives and agendas.
The latest mega-summit, the World Summit on Social Development (Copenhagen, March 1995), only touched on this very significant and urgent issue. Most Summit participants ignored the causal relationship between economic development modes and the massive economic imbalances that have spawned phenomena such as the exodus of labour from poor economies to richer ones. Many Asian leaders explicitly or tacitly advocate free market or NIC-development models as solutions to poverty, unemployment, social disintegration (the Summit's three themes). Yet it is precisely this full-speed global capitalism that has led to the exodus of labour.
But more worrisome is that workers and people’s movements have failed to place this issue at the top of our agendas. It is true that migrant workers’ programmes have been in place for at least a decade. We have exposed, documented, and provided halfway houses and relief services to these workers, but we have not discussed and agreed on a clear regional strategy. Grassroots organisations and workers’ support groups need to overcome the divisive effects of labour migration in order to build a united front on the issue. Resentments arising from labour migration weaken cross-country workers’ solidarity.
In this issue of Asian Labour Update (ALU), we are highlighting some outstanding Asian migrant workers’ cases that have taken place during the past six months. They underscore how vulnerable Asian migrant workers are to abuse and how few remedies there are for them to protect themselves. The bravery and initiative of the migrant workers and their families in demanding justice should spur more intense discussion, strategic thinking, and concerted action on the part of migrant support groups and other civil society organisations.
Contents
COVER STORY
COUNTRY REPORTS
WOMEN 17
SOCIAL SUMMIT 18
Regional Roundup 21
Health & Safety 25
Resources Update 32