A Twist in the Labour Migration Trend in Sri Lanka: Is it a Step
towards Sustainability or a leap into an Unknown Territory?
By Thilini Fernando
From 1977 with the liberalization of
the economic policies in Sri Lanka migration for employment has escalated. With
this development the government has managed to address an issue of tackling
unemployment and usage of otherwise inactive labour (unskilled female labour) towards
remittance of foreign exchange to the economy and reduce poverty through
employment & improving living standards. It was indeed a successful
strategy where a number of workers and their families benefited from migration
and it reduced the burden on government to bring down the unemployment rate.
The successful journey has resulted today the labour migration as the highest net
income earner for the economy surpassing export income which is more regulated
and governs by the government. This sector is estimated to have earned more
than USD 6 billion to the Sri Lankan economy in 2012 and caters to more than 1.4
million workers (NLMP, 2008).
However the issues pertaining to
this sector are as significant as the contribution of this sector. Given this importance
of this sector the Sri Lankan government has taken several initiatives to
govern and regulate the sector. Creation of the Ministry of Foreign Employment
Promotion and Welfare in 2007, and in the same year bringing in the Sri Lanka
Bureau of Foreign Employment under the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion
and Welfare and establishing a National Labour Migration Policy in 2008 are
some indicators towards this effort (NLMP, 2008).
Furthermore the policy emphasis on
achieving a vision of catering skilled labours into foreign markets as suppose
to the current trend where the labour market is dominated by the unskilled
female workers who engage mostly as domestic workers in confined area of the
Middle East & the Gulf. Justifying
that it could be a of step towards sustainable development as this strategy
intendeds to use the skilled labour in a more systematic way by placing them in
employment with better remuneration and better working conditions, this will
address issues of low remuneration of the migrant workers, poor regulation,
irregularities in recruitment of domestic workers in the given countries and lack
of protection & security of the workers and their families that leads
towards physical and mental abuse.
The effort here is to continuously
convert unskilled labour into skilled labour as the past trend shows that the
demand for female workers is mostly related to unskilled domestic worker
category, adding to this argument statistical data proves that more than 40% of
the male workers engage in skilled work whereas more than 80% female labour
migrants engage in unskilled work, therefore one could see an achievement
of this effort with recent years (2000) statistics
where the male migrant ratio has slightly increased the female migrant ratio
breaking the traditions of three decades of migrant patters. This could a
temporary measure of the recent job bank the government invested in Korea or it
could be a beginning of the new trend in the market. However it is also evident
that the trend in female migrants as labour has reduced to 55% over the years
after 1997 where the female labour migrants were amounted to 75% of the migrant
population (SLBFE, 92/93) further proving the withdrawal of the female
unskilled workers participation in the sector.
The focus should be to continue to
invest in enhancing skills of the migrant workers and reduction of the
dependency of the current Middle East location for employment. Towards this
there has to be effort in entering into new markets where more skilled labour
is required.
However with current efforts to
change the trend from unskilled labour to skilled labour, this effort should be
accompanied by regulated and strengthened migrant labour sector. The
irregularities in recruitment agents and sub agents, misuse of financial gains
(motivational fees) associated with undertaking employment, grievance handling
of migrant workers and their families, reintegration and building capacity of
the migrants and generating a force who are better informed about the sector should
be areas that government should work towards improving. Additionally Protection of the rights of migrant
workers and their families and better remuneration and better welfare are issues
government will further need to look into in order strengthen this sector.
On the contrary to above arguments
of how beneficial the new trends may bring in to the economy it is also
important to understand the its drawbacks to the economy. Such as the
accommodating of any loss of foreign remittance that was received from
undertaking the unskilled domestic workers jobs, securing new markets during
the transitional period as suppose to currently established markets in the Middle
East where there is a considerable demand for the unskilled labour migrants. The
protection of labour in the new markets and possibility of building
relationships with the new markets is not yet unveil, maintaining the continuous
demand for the skilled labour, planning for returnee workers, creation of jobs
within the country are key areas that the government will have to invest in.
However the futuristic vision is a long
term goal but the fact remains that the current labour migration sector has
many issues to overcome and these issues will have to be taken into account in
order for survival. While we dream as a nation to see improvement from the most
controversial yet most lucrative sector of the economy one must be mindful that
stepping out of the known territory may bring in new challenges that again
needs to be tackled in future.
Thilini's article brings the various migration and labour issues faced by workers who pursue this avenue for economic growth of their families. While Sri Lanka has a National Labour Migration policy in place, as in many cases implementation of the same is generally poor. The lack of resources, training and direction are some of the key areas to ensure the policy is implemented fully to benefit migrant workers. One of the key areas is to provide more information so that people make informed migration and job choices, as opposed to limited information from job agents. Incentives to upgrade and improve the services of the job agents should also be put in place.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Eranga
MDS 2014 /05
The labour migration effects at family levels both positive and negative
ReplyDeleteMoney sent by emigrants to their families is increasing of their living standards and has positive effects on the family relations. Although, families suffer for loosing members on a short or long period. The longer the time of departure is, the more significant the effects on the family are. The departure of one of the members determines reorganization of the roles within the family. In that case the remaining members of the families take over the functions of those migrated for employment which it can affect the well being of the family. This causes for the divorces. Beside this, most important negative affects of the labour migration children loss their mother, farther or both of the parents. So, children are affected in certain extent.
There for it is very important to recognize the social impact of the labour migration.
Manjula Rajapaksha (MDS/2014/2015/15)
The Female migrations of Sri Lanka no doubt contribute attractively to the country’s economy. But there are positive and negative impacts of migration.
ReplyDeleteThe main positive impacts are that the remittances support the steadiness of payments and contribute to GDP. They have also contributed to the improvement of living standards. No doubt the poor have improved their living conditions owing to remittances from migration. Unemployment in the country has been reduced by migration.
However there are several problems encountered by the migrants in foreign countries and has led to serious dislocation of family life and caring for children and parents left behind.
K.A.W.Fernando.
DeleteMDS-08 (2014/2015)
It is totally untrue & complete false that earning money & transfer of funds alone from parents’ abroad (eg migrant workers) automatically creates happy, healthy & wealthy families here in Sri Lanka. Vulnerabilities of children (to exploitation, abuse including physical mental emotional and even sexual, child labour, depression) & decrease performance in school, dropping out of school and behavioral problems are only few out comes & grave consequences on the children of labour migrants. Hence, there is an urgent need to address the non economic needs too of the children of migrant workers by local stakeholders like Ministries of Social Services, Religious Affairs, Health, Education, Foreign Employment, Police, NGOs…etc as a group of “one team” rather than working alone individually. Capacity building of parents & children before they face tragedies, teacher training & school based programmes to identify vulnerable children and support them and IT support for communication are few of the measures useful.
ReplyDeleteSumudu Hewawasam (2014 / MDS / 16)
Thilini's article brings the various migration and labour issues faced by workers who pursue this avenue for economic growth of their families. While Sri Lanka has a National Labour Migration policy in place, as in many cases implementation of the same is generally poor. The lack of resources, training and direction are some of the key areas to ensure the policy is implemented fully to benefit migrant workers. One of the key areas is to provide more information so that people make informed migration and job choices, as opposed to limited information from job agents. Incentives to upgrade and improve the services of the job agents should also be put in place.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Eranga
MDS 2014 /05
According to my perspective restrictions, policies will only postpone the migration but will not prevent it unless the enforcement done. Though we have understood the return, negative impacts of labour migration, we are still not able to come up with sustainable solution. I would like to highlight another face of the issue that need to concern. That is, gender wage differences and employment disparities. Women who migrate to Middle- East countries, Arab and even to European countries like Italy have less access to prestigious, high-paying occupations. This is to be concerned in new policy making and enforcement and should be addressed with selective policies to reach more wage equality and insurance for future safety. All bad results of labour migration to the country’s society even for generations indicate the need of effective integration policies. Livelihood diversification and making more alternative earning opportunities at country level also need to be done parallel to policy implementation.
ReplyDeleteW.P.U.K.Perera
MDS – 20 (2014/2015)
Thilini has encountered a significant problem that relates with country’s economy and the society. Labour migration has frequently been associated with economic development in the country as an engine of economic growth or a catalyst of economic growth. But, there are lots of costs such as loss of young and most able, creation of an unbalanced population structure, loss of working age people, loss of educated and skilled, division of families, etc. and benefits such as income for poor families, reduction of pressure to resources and jobs as article mentioned. Most debating point over the matter is the remittances from the migrant workers that lead to a cycle of economic dependency that discourages independent development of sending countries or communities. Those earnings are mostly spending on day to day consumption, for family maintenance or to purchase of consumer goods but they are not considering about the future or any investment. Therefore national level institutions with the government have an equal responsibility to take action over this to encourage labor migrants (especially unskilled and uneducated) to use their money in more sustainable manner.
ReplyDeleteBesides of all these, I think we must consider and research on the determinants of fast absorption process of both, first and second generation migrants into the society and the labour market of the receiving countries in order to minimize the costs before deciding what policies or programmes will need in management of migrations for a beneficial way.
L.P.Gangabada
MSD - 10
The writer has covered, economic social and interrelated stake holders where we can visible and at the same time invisible and illegal groups who are gaining from this sector are playing their role for their financial gain and most of the root causes for the issues mentioned in the writ up are growing by them and at the same time re-migration of families for unskilled jobs (this is taking as a pattern or habit other than using their income for enterprises for sustainable income ) specially affecting to the house hold stability and might be damage it. Generating a force as suggest, in district and divisional level, that has power and authority to monitor, aware and provide trainings will be effective to develop this sector rather than imitating to issue “family background report” from the Divisional Secretariats (by GN)
ReplyDeleteSepala MDS 11/ 2014
Labour migration trend has been discussed with reference to the social problems based on this trend. I am of the view that article will be more analytical if submissions were made on its long term impact on sustainable development.
ReplyDeleteSisira Ekanayaka 2014/ MDS / 06
Labour migration is one of main discussion in Sri Lanka. It affects Sri Lankan economy both negatively and positively. Labour migration plays a major role as a foreign exchanger in Sri Lanka. But it influences badly some occasions such as collaptions of families.
ReplyDeleteAsantha Surendra
ReplyDeleteThilini has discussed a significant social and economic problem in Sri Lanka. According to this argument, there are 2 facts need to be addressed. As she pointed out, currently, the fluctuation rate of migration in female is 51.1% and female 48.3% respectively. Firstly, investigators should be researched on the differences between women and men in terms of migration decision. According to the statistics calculated, higher percentage (41) of migrate employees found in Housemaid, 25.2% were skilled labours and 24.1% were unskilled . According to the results obtained, Majority of housemaids those who used to migrate were Women. Further, the results showed that the majority of skilled labours who generally migrates were men. Secondly, it is significant to focus on the patterns of remittance with respect to their carriers. Currently, most imperative pattern of remittance which needed to take up for discussion was housemaid spending patterns on migration. According to the above information, it can be concluded that government had given many facilities in order to influence migration in such carriers. Best example which I can point out here is “Rata Viruvo”. In this package, they introduced loans and special programmes. Without any doubt, it appeared that, large amount of their income led to contribute for GDP. The housemaids earns approximately around 20000-25000 per month. But, this income may varies with the social and economic problems rather than their salaries. Social problems such as education of children, addictions to drug and alcohol etc. But in some cases, even though they earn more, their children do not gain good education. This may be a controversial issue as to whether the children need more money or affection for their development in their childhood. And also, it is very important to discuss on the hopes of migration before they migrate and after they back to Sri Lanaka in order to prevent such issues which occurred with migration.
from PGDDS
• The author emphasis that how the economic policies functions in
ReplyDeleteSri lanka especially concerned in unskilled female labor`s employment, wages and their living standards.
• Also The author mentioned how the government organization supports to the migrant workers, skilled and unskilled labors through Creation of the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare in 2007 and Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment under the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare and also establishing a National Labor Migration Policy in 2008 are some indicators towards this effort.
• and the author find the way in which the government should work towards improving of migrates such as grievance handling of migrant workers and their families, reintegration and building capacity of the migrants
Here above mentioned are the prime points that the author has pointed out and also the article speaks obviously real things which are currently realizable through various Medias news and articles. And statistical data also has been used to easily understand the frame of migrates. Anyhow the author if used some of the real things that what happened to the family members who are remaining in their home country of the migrants especially unskilled female workers because many children effects by without parenting care also some of them dropout from school also some cases like sexual abuses and trafficking. In another side husband spends money for unwanted expenditures and this money sometimes leads to having illegal relationships here these are also some of the significant problems faces by children and society when married women migrate to gulf country so sustainable development means it should not harm anyone and should indicates whole family members are well but sometimes does not happen in real situation.
MDS/2014/22
The author mentions that there is a increase in male labor migration in the recent years. This could be a slightly better phenomenon than high levels of female labor migration, due to the negative externalities of female labor migration such as unguided children, drug abusive youth, alcoholic fatherhood for children, scattered families and increased social burden from the like. When a mother is at home, she holds the family together, guides the children and provide sufficient care to them. Notwithstanding fathers' ability play this role, society shows that mother play this role better than fathers. Therefore, increasing male labor migration to replace the female labor migration would bring more benefits to the Sri Lankan economy through the positive externalities of this replacement. Thus, in my opinion, it is wise to discourage female labor migration and encourage male labor migration. This replacement will also be a solution for the abuses women have to silently. undergo being away from home in an unknown land.
ReplyDeleteMarian Fernando
MDS 28
As the writer mentions in the title, yes there are many "Twists" related to labor migration in Sri Lanka. With reference to female migration there are different socioeconomic reasons such as poverty, escapism (from family issues, domestic violence) lead them migrated. Also the cleaver strategies by "Agents" and "Sub Agents" make the women attracted. Use of former migrant women to describe the bountiful world over there is one of the popular strategy they use. Also lending money to poor families and then making the female of the family migrate to pay back debt can be identified as another strategy they use. However the practices such as use of forged passports (i.e. Rizana Nafeek's case), not directing the women to healthy places, cheating become worst and result in chaos where the migrant women pay by their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe control of migration of women by Asian countries such as India gave Sri Lanka a huge quota for female migration, and also once the decrease in apparel industry lead the women migration- and these are not the only reasons.
Not only the legal migration, but illegal migration as a means of smuggling has been happening in Sri Lanka to the countries such as Italy, Japan, Australia etc.
However now there is a trend in decrease in female migration and increase in male
migration. And the issue is how systematic the whole process of migration and how well we are ready to cope the aftermath that is created by migration.
Madhubhashini R. Rathnayaka
MDS/2014/14