Deepak Nayyar
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780199254033
- eISBN:
- 9780191698187
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199254033.003.0006
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental
This chapter examines cross-border movements of people so as to outline the contours, examine the underlying factors, analyse the implications of globalisation, explore future prospects, and consider ...
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This chapter examines cross-border movements of people so as to outline the contours, examine the underlying factors, analyse the implications of globalisation, explore future prospects, and consider issues and problems of governance. It sketches a profile of international labour migration over the past fifty years and situates it in an historical perspective to highlight the contrast between the old and the new. It also draws a distinction between different categories of labour flows in the contemporary world economy. It then examines the underlying factors with an emphasis on structural determinants at the macrolevel. It also attempts to explain why the gathering momentum of globalisation has coincided with a discernible slowdown in migration during the last quarter of the 20th century, to analyse how globalisation might influence emigration pressures on the supply side and immigration needs on the demand side.Less
This chapter examines cross-border movements of people so as to outline the contours, examine the underlying factors, analyse the implications of globalisation, explore future prospects, and consider issues and problems of governance. It sketches a profile of international labour migration over the past fifty years and situates it in an historical perspective to highlight the contrast between the old and the new. It also draws a distinction between different categories of labour flows in the contemporary world economy. It then examines the underlying factors with an emphasis on structural determinants at the macrolevel. It also attempts to explain why the gathering momentum of globalisation has coincided with a discernible slowdown in migration during the last quarter of the 20th century, to analyse how globalisation might influence emigration pressures on the supply side and immigration needs on the demand side.
Martin Ruhs
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691132914
- eISBN:
- 9781400848607
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691132914.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
This chapter examines the implications of the analysis in this book for human rights debates and the rights-based approaches to migration advocated by many international organizations and ...
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This chapter examines the implications of the analysis in this book for human rights debates and the rights-based approaches to migration advocated by many international organizations and nongovernmental organizations concerned with protecting and promoting the interests of migrant workers. It highlights the danger of a blind spot in human rights–based approaches to migration, which are often focused on protecting and promoting migrant rights without taking into account the consequences for nation-states' policies for admitting new migrant workers. The trade-off between openness and some specific migrant rights in high-income countries' labor immigration policies means that insisting on equality of rights for migrant workers can come at the price of more restrictive admission policies and, therefore, discourage the further liberalization of international labor migration.Less
This chapter examines the implications of the analysis in this book for human rights debates and the rights-based approaches to migration advocated by many international organizations and nongovernmental organizations concerned with protecting and promoting the interests of migrant workers. It highlights the danger of a blind spot in human rights–based approaches to migration, which are often focused on protecting and promoting migrant rights without taking into account the consequences for nation-states' policies for admitting new migrant workers. The trade-off between openness and some specific migrant rights in high-income countries' labor immigration policies means that insisting on equality of rights for migrant workers can come at the price of more restrictive admission policies and, therefore, discourage the further liberalization of international labor migration.
Martin Ruhs
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691132914
- eISBN:
- 9781400848607
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691132914.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
This chapter examines the ethics of labor immigration policy, moving the discussion from a positive analysis of “what is” to the equally important normative question of “what should be.” If ...
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This chapter examines the ethics of labor immigration policy, moving the discussion from a positive analysis of “what is” to the equally important normative question of “what should be.” If high-income countries' labor immigration policies are characterized by a trade-off between openness and some rights for migrant workers, the chapter asks what rights restrictions—if any—are acceptable in order to enable more workers to access labor markets in high-income countries. It proposes a pragmatic approach that takes into account existing realities in labor immigration policymaking and gives more weight to the interests of migrants and countries of origin than most high-income countries currently do when designing labor immigration policies. Based on this approach, the chapter asserts that there is a strong normative case for tolerating the selective, evidence-based, temporary restriction of a few specific migrant rights under new and expanded temporary migration programs that help liberalize international labor migration.Less
This chapter examines the ethics of labor immigration policy, moving the discussion from a positive analysis of “what is” to the equally important normative question of “what should be.” If high-income countries' labor immigration policies are characterized by a trade-off between openness and some rights for migrant workers, the chapter asks what rights restrictions—if any—are acceptable in order to enable more workers to access labor markets in high-income countries. It proposes a pragmatic approach that takes into account existing realities in labor immigration policymaking and gives more weight to the interests of migrants and countries of origin than most high-income countries currently do when designing labor immigration policies. Based on this approach, the chapter asserts that there is a strong normative case for tolerating the selective, evidence-based, temporary restriction of a few specific migrant rights under new and expanded temporary migration programs that help liberalize international labor migration.
Martin Ruhs
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691132914
- eISBN:
- 9781400848607
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691132914.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Political Economy
Many low-income countries and development organizations are calling for greater liberalization of labor immigration policies in high-income countries. At the same time, human rights organizations and ...
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Many low-income countries and development organizations are calling for greater liberalization of labor immigration policies in high-income countries. At the same time, human rights organizations and migrant rights advocates demand more equal rights for migrant workers. This book shows why you cannot always have both. Examining labor immigration policies in over forty countries, as well as policy drivers in major migrant-receiving and migrant-sending states, the book finds that there are trade-offs in the policies of high-income countries between openness to admitting migrant workers and some of the rights granted to migrants after admission. Insisting on greater equality of rights for migrant workers can come at the price of more restrictive admission policies, especially for lower-skilled workers. The book advocates the liberalization of international labor migration through temporary migration programs that protect a universal set of core rights and account for the interests of nation-states by restricting a few specific rights that create net costs for receiving countries. It analyzes how high-income countries restrict the rights of migrant workers as part of their labor immigration policies and discusses the implications for global debates about regulating labor migration and protecting migrants. It comprehensively looks at the tensions between human rights and citizenship rights, the agency and interests of migrants and states, and the determinants and ethics of labor immigration policy.Less
Many low-income countries and development organizations are calling for greater liberalization of labor immigration policies in high-income countries. At the same time, human rights organizations and migrant rights advocates demand more equal rights for migrant workers. This book shows why you cannot always have both. Examining labor immigration policies in over forty countries, as well as policy drivers in major migrant-receiving and migrant-sending states, the book finds that there are trade-offs in the policies of high-income countries between openness to admitting migrant workers and some of the rights granted to migrants after admission. Insisting on greater equality of rights for migrant workers can come at the price of more restrictive admission policies, especially for lower-skilled workers. The book advocates the liberalization of international labor migration through temporary migration programs that protect a universal set of core rights and account for the interests of nation-states by restricting a few specific rights that create net costs for receiving countries. It analyzes how high-income countries restrict the rights of migrant workers as part of their labor immigration policies and discusses the implications for global debates about regulating labor migration and protecting migrants. It comprehensively looks at the tensions between human rights and citizenship rights, the agency and interests of migrants and states, and the determinants and ethics of labor immigration policy.
Philip Martin
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- August 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198808022
- eISBN:
- 9780191845819
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198808022.003.0002
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
Migration is the exception rather than the rule, but international labor migration is likely to increase because of persisting demographic and economic inequalities at a time when revolutions in ...
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Migration is the exception rather than the rule, but international labor migration is likely to increase because of persisting demographic and economic inequalities at a time when revolutions in communications, transportation, and rights make it ever easier to learn about opportunities abroad, move to them, and stay abroad. When faced with migration crises, the default management tool of governments involves adjusting the rights of migrants, prompting clashes with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations that urge equal rights for migrants. In an ideal world, there would be few barriers to migration and equal rights for migrants, but this ideal world is unlikely until the differences between countries that encourage migration are reduced.Less
Migration is the exception rather than the rule, but international labor migration is likely to increase because of persisting demographic and economic inequalities at a time when revolutions in communications, transportation, and rights make it ever easier to learn about opportunities abroad, move to them, and stay abroad. When faced with migration crises, the default management tool of governments involves adjusting the rights of migrants, prompting clashes with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations that urge equal rights for migrants. In an ideal world, there would be few barriers to migration and equal rights for migrants, but this ideal world is unlikely until the differences between countries that encourage migration are reduced.
Philip Martin
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- August 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198808022
- eISBN:
- 9780191845819
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198808022.001.0001
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Public and Welfare
Merchants of labor are the intermediary recruiters between workers in one country and employers in another. They have a checkered history, often associated with trickery or coercion to fill ...
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Merchants of labor are the intermediary recruiters between workers in one country and employers in another. They have a checkered history, often associated with trickery or coercion to fill undesirable jobs, from finding soldiers in ancient Rome and sailors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to moving low-skilled workers over borders today. Moving workers over borders is a big business, generating at least $10 billion a year from 10 million workers each paying $1,000 to work abroad. UN agencies such as the International Labor Organization want employers to pay all of the costs of the workers they recruit, and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 call on governments to cooperate to reduce worker-paid migration costs. Governments try to reduce worker-paid migration costs by setting maximum fees that recruiters can charge and punishing violators. However, there are not enough complaints and inspectors to detect overcharging, which can be a victimless crime if workers get what they want, a job abroad that pays higher wages. Merchants of Labor explores the potential of government incentives to encourage recruiters to better protect migrant workers during their recruitment and deployment. Faster processing, exemptions from taxes and subsidies, and awards could be carrots to reduce worker-paid costs rather than rely exclusively on the stick of enforcement.Less
Merchants of labor are the intermediary recruiters between workers in one country and employers in another. They have a checkered history, often associated with trickery or coercion to fill undesirable jobs, from finding soldiers in ancient Rome and sailors in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to moving low-skilled workers over borders today. Moving workers over borders is a big business, generating at least $10 billion a year from 10 million workers each paying $1,000 to work abroad. UN agencies such as the International Labor Organization want employers to pay all of the costs of the workers they recruit, and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 call on governments to cooperate to reduce worker-paid migration costs. Governments try to reduce worker-paid migration costs by setting maximum fees that recruiters can charge and punishing violators. However, there are not enough complaints and inspectors to detect overcharging, which can be a victimless crime if workers get what they want, a job abroad that pays higher wages. Merchants of Labor explores the potential of government incentives to encourage recruiters to better protect migrant workers during their recruitment and deployment. Faster processing, exemptions from taxes and subsidies, and awards could be carrots to reduce worker-paid costs rather than rely exclusively on the stick of enforcement.
Naomi Hossain
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- March 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780198785507
- eISBN:
- 9780191827419
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198785507.003.0008
- Subject:
- Economics and Finance, Development, Growth, and Environmental, South and East Asia
This chapter explores how Bangladeshis have begun to make their way in and around the global economy, with a look at employment in the readymade garments (RMG) industry, international labour ...
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This chapter explores how Bangladeshis have begun to make their way in and around the global economy, with a look at employment in the readymade garments (RMG) industry, international labour migration, and microfinance. It examines the origins, scale, and social transformations engendered by each of these sectors, in which millions of Bangladeshis have come to be involved. Chapter 8 shows how elite interests were advanced, or not harmed, by the rapid growth of each of these sectors. Despite the benefits each has brought, Bangladeshis are positioned at the bottom of global value chains and, through their employment in each, are exposed to new volatilities and harms from within the global economy, which to date the state has struggled to protect them against.Less
This chapter explores how Bangladeshis have begun to make their way in and around the global economy, with a look at employment in the readymade garments (RMG) industry, international labour migration, and microfinance. It examines the origins, scale, and social transformations engendered by each of these sectors, in which millions of Bangladeshis have come to be involved. Chapter 8 shows how elite interests were advanced, or not harmed, by the rapid growth of each of these sectors. Despite the benefits each has brought, Bangladeshis are positioned at the bottom of global value chains and, through their employment in each, are exposed to new volatilities and harms from within the global economy, which to date the state has struggled to protect them against.
Emir Estrada and Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- April 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780252037573
- eISBN:
- 9780252094828
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Illinois Press
- DOI:
- 10.5406/illinois/9780252037573.003.0009
- Subject:
- Sociology, Migration Studies (including Refugee Studies)
This chapter examines gendered expectations resulting not only from the intersecting relations of race and class but also from the age as well as the inequality of nations that gives rise to ...
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This chapter examines gendered expectations resulting not only from the intersecting relations of race and class but also from the age as well as the inequality of nations that gives rise to particular patterns of international labor migration. Drawing on nine months of ethnographic observations and twenty in-depth interviews with Latina/o adolescent street vendors (sixteen girls and four boys) in Los Angeles, the chapter investigates how Latina girls negotiate a triple shift: street vending, household work, and schoolwork. It also explores the continuities between gendered household divisions of labor and street vending, whether the girls see “third-shift” work obligations as a burden or as a source of empowerment, and how the work that girls do as street vendors both perpetuates and challenges gendered expectations.Less
This chapter examines gendered expectations resulting not only from the intersecting relations of race and class but also from the age as well as the inequality of nations that gives rise to particular patterns of international labor migration. Drawing on nine months of ethnographic observations and twenty in-depth interviews with Latina/o adolescent street vendors (sixteen girls and four boys) in Los Angeles, the chapter investigates how Latina girls negotiate a triple shift: street vending, household work, and schoolwork. It also explores the continuities between gendered household divisions of labor and street vending, whether the girls see “third-shift” work obligations as a burden or as a source of empowerment, and how the work that girls do as street vendors both perpetuates and challenges gendered expectations.