Course Objective:
• The course will examine various forms of labour migration.
• It will use a gender lenses, meaning we will look at how men and women are affected as migrants, how they influence migration as process, and the determinants which causes them to move
• It will also offer a solid introduction to how to conduct research on migration
• The course aims to be more practical, looking at country cases and change in the past few decade in South and Southeast Asia in particular and Asia in General.
Learning Outcomes:
• Explain the different forms of labour migration including regular and irregular migration; labour migration and Human Trafficking.
• Identify international policies on labour migration including the Global Compact on migrants and SDG’s pertaining to labour migrants.
• Formulate a basic research plan that addresses challenges in conducting research on labour migration.
Pre-requisite: none
Course Outline:
PART I: INTRODUCTION: GENDER AND MIGRATION IN ASIA
Presentation of syllabus and course objectives
1. Migration in Asia: An overview
2. Scenario of labour Migration in South and Southeast Asia
3. Rights and obligations of Migrant workers.
PART II: GENDER & LABOR MIGRATION
4. Gender perspectives on labor migration
5. Globalization and Women Migrant Workers
6. Women Migrants and Domestic Work.
7. Migrant Health and Security
PART III: MIGRATION IN PRACTICE
8. Migration management instruments, Registration and policies
9. ILO and Migrant Workers.
10. Climate Change and Migrant Labour
11. Researching Migration.
Laboratory sessions: None
Texts:
Documents:
1. The Global Compact on Migrants
2. The World Development Report 2023
Books
3. Women in Motion: Globalization, State Policies, and Labor Migration in Asia by Nana Oishi
4. Migration, Agrarian Transition, and Rural Change in Southeast Asia (Critical Asian Studies) by Philip F. Kelly
References:
To be Announced in Class
Teaching and Learning Methods:
• 6-8 pages double space
• Use a case study on labour migration in any Asian country or cross-countries.
• Either provide a situation analysis of labour migration in a country/area (climate change and labour migration in Pacific Islands), or focus on a specific theme (domestic workers, construction workers, rights of migrant workers, migrants from Nepal to India, etc.) or even case (garment migrant workers in Dhaka, construction migrant workers in Bangkok, etc)
• Use several references (mostly journal articles, books, UN and NGO reports) and ILO reports.
• Most Important: Discuss the gender dimensions of the issue/topic
• Provide critical analysis (don’t only describe, but comment/reflect)
• Due Wednesday February 21st, in class and on Turnitin
Time Distribution and Study Load:
17 January: Classes Begin
31 January: Class Presentations
14 February: Library and Research Day
21 February: Papers Due
Final Exam: To be Announced
- Teacher: Prof. Paula Banerjee.