Oped»
Getting migration right
AUG 25 -
Migration is here to stay as a part of human society, and it is getting extremely cozy in Nepal. The daily dose of news concerning the torture or death of a Nepali migrant worker does not seem to be a deterrent, reflected in the 35.42 percent increase from the previous fiscal year of Nepalis abroad in search of employment. This number, released by the Department of Foreign Employment, obviously underestimates the actual amount which includes those who go through undocumented routes. It has been proven, through examples such as the ban placed against women Nepali migrant workers in the Gulf countries’ care economy, that protectionist measures and discouragement of migration are not only ineffective but destructive as well. People have always migrated, and they will continue to do so.
There exist numerous push factors for Nepalis to seek employment abroad, especially at this time of great transition. All are plausible and many are urgent. This is also compounded by the sluggish political will within Nepal to create a comprehensive and effective support system for migrant workers, as well as the creation of employment opportunities, that have increased resignation. Despite some preliminary initiatives that have been implemented, under the pressure and recommendation from the likes of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the reality still remains that the workers are being milked for their remittances to hold up the domestic economy and then disposed of.
Government shortcomings are undoubtedly the main source of complications surrounding foreign employment and its effects. At the same time I cannot help feeling that there is an undeniable prevalence of naïveté regarding the process and results of migrating abroad. The snaking line through Sundhara in June of those seeking to make one of the 4,500 South Korean visas theirs had a sizeable number of educated people who had the capacity to interact with me in English. As I made my way through the crowd, the number of those wearing clothing with Korean flags continued to catch my eye. In areas where the number of people thinned out and I became more noticeable, cheers of “Korea!” erupted as some eagerly showed off their shirts to the Japanese girl who was mistaken for Korean. It was quite contrary to the serious and often anxious process of immigration that is felt in many other places, this feeling more like a queue for an American Idol audition. Many, when asked about their knowledge about Korea, could only respond that it was a “successful country”.
Similarly, an overtly glamorised image of my home country has been displayed to me here as well. Numerous posters and signs colour the streets of Kathmandu, singing sweet tunes of success that could possibly be anybody’s through language study. In these advertisements, Japanese is valued on the same pedestal as English. I have suddenly become a dream dealer to many. Every time my Limbu looking face is not enough to cover up the unmistakably foreign mannerisms and Nepali language skills, my identity as a Japanese seems to quickly become an object of fancy. The admiration for Japan that many have expressed to me in Nepal is different than the one that I am used to in the US, something that often stems from fascination for samurai philosophy or pop culture. Here, it is one that is likely to lead to a life-altering decision to migrate to a country that has been sold as a miraculous place of unparalleled Asian success with the promise of a better life.
Several NGOs, both local and international, have been focusing on the dissemination of safe migration information in creative and, in many cases, effective ways. The utilisation of various media and networking sources to reach out to rural and illiterate populations have produced concrete results. Such efforts should be sustained and expanded, but the information provided seems lopsided. Making migration a choice rather than a necessity means that individuals are capable of informed decision making through each step of the process. The current cycle of migration is framed in a way where the beginning point is “pre-departure”, but this needs to be extended to the stage when one starts to consider the possibility of foreign employment.
Organisations such as POURAKHI have counseling services to prospective migrants and their families, but such services are extremely scarce overall. Due to the dearth of objective information that provides the pros and cons of going abroad, especially regarding the numerous barriers that exist, many are making their choices based on limited hearsay. Especially within the younger generation, the responsibilities and challenges that exist are often downplayed. There also needs to be increased access to the range of alternative options to going abroad, however minimal they may be.
It is not in the country’s best interest to neither promote nor discourage migration; it is about being able to work and negotiate with this phenomenon that has been a part of the people from time immemorial. All stakeholders, the government and NGOs alike, need to recognise this fact and place collective effort into creating a migration cycle that is safe in its entirety. In making foreign employment a choice rather than necessity, the key is to empower and support individuals so that every step of the process is driven by their own informed decisions. An overlooked piece to creating such vibrant environment is the presentation of an extensive and balanced set of information that highlights various realities, as well as the importance of a more comprehensive awareness on social aspects of the destination countries.
The love and respect for Japan shown to me is flattering and appreciated, but in reality that is not enough to convince the Japanese government to open up its doors that still remain sceptical to foreigners. The work that has been done by various groups must be commended, but now it’s time to really fill in the gaps of knowledge.
(Tasaki is a graduate student at The New School University, New York. She was recently in Nepal to research issues of Nepali migrant workers)
Posted on: 2010-08-26 08:50
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