Migrant Rights, Migrant Realities: Women’s Labour Migration

Ahead of #InternationalMigrantsDay, listen to experts on labour migration talk about experiences of South Asian women during the onslaught of COVID-19. How did conditions of stigmatization, discrimination, and social exclusion affect women migrant workers in the countries of origin and destination? What role did they play in the macro and micro economy before and during the crisis? Did they have access to services, social protection, and welfare that recognized and met their needs as workers?

Guests: Igor Bosc (Work in Freedom Programme in the ILO), Praveena Kodoth (Centre for Development Studies, India), Shristi Kolakshyapati (Women’s Rehabilitation Center, Nepal), Shakirul Islam (Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme, Bangladesh), and Bilesha Weeraratne (Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka)

Host: Namrata Daniel (GAATW)

To learn more about the WOREC and GAATW study Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Returnee Migrant Women Workers, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHaO9tbQAUY .

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Stale Mate" by Jingle Punk from YouTube Audio Library

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Cast of Pods" by Doug Maxwell from YouTube Audio Library

"Oceans, Rivers, Canyons" by ELPHNT from YouTube Audio Library

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

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For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

If migrants supply substantial labour for countries of destination, why don’t they have access to the same social welfare benefits as local workers? And if they yield income for their countries of origin, why don’t their governments arrange social security schemes that would meet their needs whenever and however they want it? Where are the women’s voices in leveraging migrant workers’ access to social security funds?

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Cast of Pods" by Doug Maxwell from YouTube Audio Library

"Oceans, Rivers, Canyons" by ELPHNT from YouTube Audio Library

"Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie from YouTube Audio Library

"Stale Mate" by Jingle Punk from YouTube Audio Library

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

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For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

For many years now, civil society has been calling for a better understanding of the gendered nature of labour migration. In Sri Lanka, data on the remittances sent by migrant workers remain aggregated. This reveals the government’s lack of information and recognition of women’s contribution to the macroeconomy. This has affected its investment in women workers' welfare. But this lack of recognition and social safety net does not only happen in Sri Lanka. It happens even in the countries of destination which substantially benefit from migrant workers’ labour.

Please the transcript of this episode here: https://bit.ly/3c4GRbB

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Cease" by A Himitsu from YouTube Audio Library

"Stale Mate" by Jingle Punk from YouTube Audio Library

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

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For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

When Bangladeshi women migrate for labour, they are helping their households' income and their country's economic development. But what do they get in return? Do they have a voice in financial decisions in their households? How is the Bangladeshi government using their remittances for their health benefits and social welfare?

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie from YouTube Audio Library 

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Oceans, Rivers, Canyons" by ELPHNT from YouTube Audio Library

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

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For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

When political processes maintain the status quo-- especially the exclusions and expulsions in society-- what kind of social change comes with adding "inclusion" in the policy objectives? How can laws be "inclusive" if they are oblivious of the structural inequalities  produced and reproduced by economic growth? What kind of "returning home" awaits migrant workers who were excluded by society even before their migration?

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Cast of Pods" by Doug Maxwell from YouTube Audio Library

"Cease" by A Himitsu from YouTube Audio Library

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

- - -

For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

The labour migration of women is replete with negatives. They have no decent work opportunities at home and yet they are banned from working abroad. As Nepali women provide migrant labour in the global care economy, what kinds of intervention will guarantee them their human rights as workers? How would policy actions based on the fundamental recognition of women's paid and unpaid work look like?

To learn more about the WOREC and GAATW study Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Returnee Migrant Women Workers, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHaO9tbQAUY .

- - -

Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie from YouTube Audio Library

"Oceans, Rivers, Canyons" by ELPHNT from YouTube Audio Library

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

- - -

For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

What are the gains of having state policies that promote women's market participation in labour migration? What do women migrant workers lose when they rely on their social networks and do not organize as workers?

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Raga Scape" by Jingle Punks from YouTube Audio Library

"Night Music" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

- - -

For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

Women who work abroad face multiple forms of exclusion from their families, communities, and the governments of their countries of origin and destination. Whether they migrate out of compulsion or out of their own personal aspiration, they will most likely be unable to meet the “good woman” standards imposed by society. 

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Music credits:

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library

"Assembling" by Asher Fulero from YouTube Audio Library

"Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie from YouTube Audio Library

"I Think I Can Help You" by The Six Realms from YouTube Audio Library

"Bending Truth" by Remember the Future

- - -

For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol

To understand women’s labour migration journeys, we have to situate their position in their home countries’ labour markets. In this first episode, Igor Bosc of the International Labour Organization speaks about patterns of employment and movement of workers in South Asia. How does the history of women’s participation in paid work affect their access to decent work, social security, and social protections when they become migrant workers? How do gender stereotypes affect their labour opportunities and inclusion in states’ economic policies when they return home?

- - - 

Music credits: 

"Divider" by Chris Zabriskie from https://music.youtube.com/

"Where Silence is Nonexistent" by A Himitsu from https://music.youtube.com/

"Rounding" by Savfk from https://breakingcopyright.com/

"Desert City" by Kevin MacLeod from https://music.youtube.com/

"Birds" by Silent Partner from YouTube Audio Library 

- - - 

For more podcast conversations from GAATW, check out "Looking Back, Looking Forward: The UN Trafficking Protocol at 20" here: https://anchor.fm/gaatw-traffickingprotocol