Back
About RSIS
Introduction
Building the Foundations
Welcome Message
Board of Governors
Staff Profiles
Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
Dean’s Office
Management
Distinguished Fellows
Faculty and Research
Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
Visiting Fellows
Adjunct Fellows
Administrative Staff
Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
RSIS Endowment Fund
Endowed Professorships
Career Opportunities
Getting to RSIS
Research
Research Centres
Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
Centre of Excellence for National Security
Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
Research Programmes
National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)
Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
Other Research
Future Issues and Technology Cluster
Research@RSIS
Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
Graduate Education
Graduate Programmes Office
Exchange Partners and Programmes
How to Apply
Financial Assistance
Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
RSIS Alumni
Outreach
Global Networks
About Global Networks
RSIS Alumni
Executive Education
About Executive Education
SRP Executive Programme
Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
International Programmes
About International Programmes
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)
International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
Publications
RSIS Publications
Annual Reviews
Books
Bulletins and Newsletters
RSIS Commentary Series
Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
Commemorative / Event Reports
Future Issues
IDSS Papers
Interreligious Relations
Monographs
NTS Insight
Policy Reports
Working Papers
External Publications
Authored Books
Journal Articles
Edited Books
Chapters in Edited Books
Policy Reports
Working Papers
Op-Eds
Glossary of Abbreviations
Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
RSIS Publications for the Year
External Publications for the Year
Media
Cohesive Societies
Sustainable Security
Other Resource Pages
News Releases
Speeches
Video/Audio Channel
External Podcasts
Events
Contact Us
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University
  • About RSIS
      IntroductionBuilding the FoundationsWelcome MessageBoard of GovernorsHonours and Awards for RSIS Staff and StudentsRSIS Endowment FundEndowed ProfessorshipsCareer OpportunitiesGetting to RSIS
      Staff ProfilesExecutive Deputy Chairman’s OfficeDean’s OfficeManagementDistinguished FellowsFaculty and ResearchAssociate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research AnalystsVisiting FellowsAdjunct FellowsAdministrative Staff
  • Research
      Research CentresCentre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)Centre of Excellence for National SecurityInstitute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      Research ProgrammesNational Security Studies Programme (NSSP)Social Cohesion Research Programme (SCRP)Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      Other ResearchFuture Issues and Technology ClusterResearch@RSISScience and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      Graduate Programmes OfficeExchange Partners and ProgrammesHow to ApplyFinancial AssistanceMeet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other eventsRSIS Alumni
  • Outreach
      Global NetworksAbout Global NetworksRSIS Alumni
      Executive EducationAbout Executive EducationSRP Executive ProgrammeTerrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
      International ProgrammesAbout International ProgrammesAsia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS)International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
  • Publications
      RSIS PublicationsAnnual ReviewsBooksBulletins and NewslettersRSIS Commentary SeriesCounter Terrorist Trends and AnalysesCommemorative / Event ReportsFuture IssuesIDSS PapersInterreligious RelationsMonographsNTS InsightPolicy ReportsWorking Papers
      External PublicationsAuthored BooksJournal ArticlesEdited BooksChapters in Edited BooksPolicy ReportsWorking PapersOp-Eds
      Glossary of AbbreviationsPolicy-relevant Articles Given RSIS AwardRSIS Publications for the YearExternal Publications for the Year
  • Media
      Cohesive SocietiesSustainable SecurityOther Resource PagesNews ReleasesSpeechesVideo/Audio ChannelExternal Podcasts
  • Events
  • Contact Us
    • Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
      rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
      rsis.sg
      rsissg
      RSIS
      RSS
      Subscribe to RSIS Publications
      Subscribe to RSIS Events

      Getting to RSIS

      Nanyang Technological University
      Block S4, Level B3,
      50 Nanyang Avenue,
      Singapore 639798

      Click here for direction to RSIS

      Get in Touch

    Connect
    Search
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO09082 | Migrant Workers and the Right to Labour
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • RSIS Commentary Series
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • Future Issues
    • IDSS Papers
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers

    CO09082 | Migrant Workers and the Right to Labour
    Nur Azha Putra

    19 August 2009

    download pdf

    Commentary

    There has been some public discussion on the issue of labour migrants and its supposed impact on the productivity of the national labour force. How true is this? Or is this simply another episode in the securitising of migration during periods of economic crises?

    THERE has been some debate on the issue of labour migrants and its supposed impact on the productivity of the national labour force. On one hand, there were calls for the government to revisit its policies on migrant workers. On the other, it appears that the government is more keen to address the issue of re-training and upgrading of skills of the national workers.

    There are also rumours that the government is considering a reduction in the quota of foreign workers. As the economic downturn takes its toll on the national economy, the natural consequence is job loss in the manufacturing and service sectors. These issues however are neither new nor unique to Singapore. At the heart of the discussion however remains two inter-related issues — job security for the national workers and the vulnerability of workers in general.

    Migration Trends in Southeast Asia

    According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) World Migration Report 2008, the bulk of the 86 million migrant workers worldwide are employed in the service sectors of major developed economies. In Southeast Asia, migrant workers are mostly employed in the manufacturing industry.

    Southeast Asia is an emerging market in the global economy. With increasing globalisation, demand for and supply of foreign labour has increased significantly since the 1970s. Labour migrants filled much of the labour shortages in the receiving countries, as noted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Asia Development Bank (ADB) highlighted that most immigrants live and work legally in the host countries on short-term labour contracts although a significant number also moved on to attain permanent status.

    The ILO identified seven factors that drives migration: wide gaps in wages and productivity between sending and receiving countries; ageing and uneven distribution of young workers in the region; state policies on immigration; dramatic improvements in information communication technology which in turn facilitates social networks amongst migrants; and the commercialisation of migration as an employment oppportunity.

    Future Labour Outlook in Southeast Asia

    The ILO also noted that there is an ‘unprecedented decline in fertility and mortality’ especially in Southeast Asia during the latter half of the 20th century. The fertility rate in the region dropped by more than half. Singapore and Thailand are the two countries that will be most affected due to their declining population in the age range of 15 and 24. Subsequently, economic productivity will decline and these countries would face difficulties in sustaining their present standard of living. This is because their labour force will have to support more economically inactive people in the population.

    According to the ILO’s report on labour and social trends in the region, the impulse to retrench migrant workers may be detrimental to the national and regional economies in the long-run. Apart from increasing productivity and output, migrant workers fill up the necessary lower-productivity jobs thereby freeing higher-skilled national workers for the higher-productivity jobs. Additionally, migrant workers contribute towards demand for local goods and services and boost domestic consumption. The report also singled out the impact of low wages on the profitability of enterprises whose accrued savings could be invested back as its capital.

    Security, Vulnerability and The Right to Labour

    Earlier this year, the IOM pointed out that migrant workers are often the first to lose their jobs in the event of economic recession. Calls to reduce migration are typically based on the perception that “migrants take jobs” or “compete for welfare benefits”. More extreme cases would be on the ground that they are a strain on the receiving communities’ social and societal security. Security analysts comprehend social security as the social and economic well-being of individuals while societal security refers to the collective identities of social groupings. Thus, social security encompass threats in society issues such as poverty, shelter, education and healthcare while societal security refers to threats to society issues such as the cultural and political identity of communities and minority groups.

    In analysing international trends and projections, inter-state labour migration will continue to be one of the key drivers of the global economy. However, migrant workers are often blamed for causing social and societal insecurities, often unjustifiably. In fact, migrant workers are vulnerable and sensitive to any negative shift in the global economy.

    For instance, the typical labour migration occurs from less-developed economies to the more developed economies such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The loss of employment would mean that these workers are unable to remit any monies back to their families. Most fall into debt because they are unable to repay their loans from the employment agents. In the absence of enforced labour rights and employment benefits, many of these workers fall prey to rogue agents and unscrupulous employers. Furthermore, contrary to popular perceptions and according to several studies, migrant workers tend not to commit crimes due to the fear of deportation and repatriation.

    The unemployed amongst the national workers are already bearing the social stigma of unemployment, retrenchment and dependency on social services. The noticeable presence of employed foreign workers add to the inevitable sense of vulnerability, insecurity and maybe even injustice. Perhaps what is needed is the social integration of migrant workers. This is in addition to the widely available state-sponsored social services and job skills and training programmes as part of the larger nation-building project.

    Migrant workers could be more involved in community-building and social activities via participation in interest groups and civic society organisations. For example, the substantial number of foreign domestic helpers and labour migrant workers can contribute towards charity work alongside citizens. However, all this, of course, is possible only with the cooperation of hiring agents and employers. It also requires the de-commoditising of migrant workers as mere entities serving the nation’s economic interests and humanising them as social capital.

    About the Author

    Nur Azha Putra is Associate Research Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University where he serves at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS-Centre). 

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Non-Traditional Security / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Commentary

    There has been some public discussion on the issue of labour migrants and its supposed impact on the productivity of the national labour force. How true is this? Or is this simply another episode in the securitising of migration during periods of economic crises?

    THERE has been some debate on the issue of labour migrants and its supposed impact on the productivity of the national labour force. On one hand, there were calls for the government to revisit its policies on migrant workers. On the other, it appears that the government is more keen to address the issue of re-training and upgrading of skills of the national workers.

    There are also rumours that the government is considering a reduction in the quota of foreign workers. As the economic downturn takes its toll on the national economy, the natural consequence is job loss in the manufacturing and service sectors. These issues however are neither new nor unique to Singapore. At the heart of the discussion however remains two inter-related issues — job security for the national workers and the vulnerability of workers in general.

    Migration Trends in Southeast Asia

    According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) World Migration Report 2008, the bulk of the 86 million migrant workers worldwide are employed in the service sectors of major developed economies. In Southeast Asia, migrant workers are mostly employed in the manufacturing industry.

    Southeast Asia is an emerging market in the global economy. With increasing globalisation, demand for and supply of foreign labour has increased significantly since the 1970s. Labour migrants filled much of the labour shortages in the receiving countries, as noted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Asia Development Bank (ADB) highlighted that most immigrants live and work legally in the host countries on short-term labour contracts although a significant number also moved on to attain permanent status.

    The ILO identified seven factors that drives migration: wide gaps in wages and productivity between sending and receiving countries; ageing and uneven distribution of young workers in the region; state policies on immigration; dramatic improvements in information communication technology which in turn facilitates social networks amongst migrants; and the commercialisation of migration as an employment oppportunity.

    Future Labour Outlook in Southeast Asia

    The ILO also noted that there is an ‘unprecedented decline in fertility and mortality’ especially in Southeast Asia during the latter half of the 20th century. The fertility rate in the region dropped by more than half. Singapore and Thailand are the two countries that will be most affected due to their declining population in the age range of 15 and 24. Subsequently, economic productivity will decline and these countries would face difficulties in sustaining their present standard of living. This is because their labour force will have to support more economically inactive people in the population.

    According to the ILO’s report on labour and social trends in the region, the impulse to retrench migrant workers may be detrimental to the national and regional economies in the long-run. Apart from increasing productivity and output, migrant workers fill up the necessary lower-productivity jobs thereby freeing higher-skilled national workers for the higher-productivity jobs. Additionally, migrant workers contribute towards demand for local goods and services and boost domestic consumption. The report also singled out the impact of low wages on the profitability of enterprises whose accrued savings could be invested back as its capital.

    Security, Vulnerability and The Right to Labour

    Earlier this year, the IOM pointed out that migrant workers are often the first to lose their jobs in the event of economic recession. Calls to reduce migration are typically based on the perception that “migrants take jobs” or “compete for welfare benefits”. More extreme cases would be on the ground that they are a strain on the receiving communities’ social and societal security. Security analysts comprehend social security as the social and economic well-being of individuals while societal security refers to the collective identities of social groupings. Thus, social security encompass threats in society issues such as poverty, shelter, education and healthcare while societal security refers to threats to society issues such as the cultural and political identity of communities and minority groups.

    In analysing international trends and projections, inter-state labour migration will continue to be one of the key drivers of the global economy. However, migrant workers are often blamed for causing social and societal insecurities, often unjustifiably. In fact, migrant workers are vulnerable and sensitive to any negative shift in the global economy.

    For instance, the typical labour migration occurs from less-developed economies to the more developed economies such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The loss of employment would mean that these workers are unable to remit any monies back to their families. Most fall into debt because they are unable to repay their loans from the employment agents. In the absence of enforced labour rights and employment benefits, many of these workers fall prey to rogue agents and unscrupulous employers. Furthermore, contrary to popular perceptions and according to several studies, migrant workers tend not to commit crimes due to the fear of deportation and repatriation.

    The unemployed amongst the national workers are already bearing the social stigma of unemployment, retrenchment and dependency on social services. The noticeable presence of employed foreign workers add to the inevitable sense of vulnerability, insecurity and maybe even injustice. Perhaps what is needed is the social integration of migrant workers. This is in addition to the widely available state-sponsored social services and job skills and training programmes as part of the larger nation-building project.

    Migrant workers could be more involved in community-building and social activities via participation in interest groups and civic society organisations. For example, the substantial number of foreign domestic helpers and labour migrant workers can contribute towards charity work alongside citizens. However, all this, of course, is possible only with the cooperation of hiring agents and employers. It also requires the de-commoditising of migrant workers as mere entities serving the nation’s economic interests and humanising them as social capital.

    About the Author

    Nur Azha Putra is Associate Research Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University where he serves at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS-Centre). 

    Categories: RSIS Commentary Series / Non-Traditional Security

    Popular Links

    About RSISResearch ProgrammesGraduate EducationPublicationsEventsAdmissionsCareersVideo/Audio ChannelRSIS Intranet

    Connect with Us

    rsis.ntu
    rsis_ntu
    rsisntu
    rsisvideocast
    school/rsis-ntu
    rsis.sg
    rsissg
    RSIS
    RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    Getting to RSIS

    Nanyang Technological University
    Block S4, Level B3,
    50 Nanyang Avenue,
    Singapore 639798

    Click here for direction to RSIS

    Get in Touch

      Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
      Privacy Statement / Terms of Use
      Help us improve

        Rate your experience with this website
        123456
        Not satisfiedVery satisfied
        What did you like?
        0/255 characters
        What can be improved?
        0/255 characters
        Your email
        Please enter a valid email.
        Thank you for your feedback.
        This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
        OK
        Latest Book
        more info