VOLUME 6, 1997

Issue No. 1

Shah, Nasra M. and Indu Menon
"Violence Against Women Migrant Workers: Issues, Data and Partial Solutions," Vol. 6 (1), p. 5-30, 1997.

Despite the creation of specific norms, procedures, and institutions to protect women migrant workers, serious gaps remain. Statistics for measuring violence are not compiled comprehensively or regularly. Two occupations that increase the risk of violence are domestic service and entertainment-related services. Migration through illegal channels and trafficking also increase the risk. This article suggests a list of indicators to measure violence of three major types: 1) economic, 2) social/psychological, and 3) physical/sexual. Evidence from several countries to document instances of violence is reviewed. Major policy issues for the sending and receiving countries are outlined, and some recommendations for addressing such violations are made.

Stasiulis, Daiva K. and Abigail B. Bakan
" Regulation and Resistance: Strategies of Migrant Domestic Workers in Canada and Internationally," Vol. 6 (1), p. 31-57, 1997.

While the Canadian program for migrant domestic workers offers among the best conditions internationally, it shares two features in common with worldwide policies and treatment of foreign household workers. These are: 1) the inherent asymmetry in citizenship statuses and rights of employers and their domestic employees; and 2) the expectation that employees will 'live in' their employers' homes. Enforcement of rights of foreign domestics is also complicated by shared, yet ambiguous jurisdiction over foreign domestics of the federal and provincial governments. These conditions render foreign domestic workers vulnerable to all forms of abuse. They have not been eliminated despite impressive organizing and advocacy among these migrant workers and their allies. The challenges of finding adequate protection against abuse by domestic workers in Canada and elsewhere are explored by examining the policies of labor sending and labor receiving countries, and international conventions. A significant development in domestic workers organizations is the linking of campaigns for migrant worker rights to global efforts to address the causes of unemployment and migration.

Cox, David
"The Vulnerability of Asian Women Migrant Workers to a Lack of Protection and to Violence," Vol. 6 (1), p. 59-75, 1997.

The paper argues that women moving abroad as domestic workers are, in many instances, unprepared, unprotected, and therefore open to exploitation and violent treatment. It suggests that the factors resulting in this common outcome are clear, and that an examination of the situation and the relevant factors leads us to a set of intervention strategies which are feasible. Six areas of intervention are identified: conventions, legislation, government control of processes, supervision, preparation and empowerment of the women, and support NGOs including self-help groups.

Husson, Laurence
"The Madurese Migration in East Java: An Eight Century-Old Phenomenon," Vol. 6 (1), p. 77-102, 1997.

Over the past eight centuries in Indonesia, a substantial and ceaseless stream of out migration has been flowing from the tiny island of Madura, poor and overpopulated, to the slightly better-off, but just as overpopulated island of Java. This out-migration to East Java of the Madurese-Indonesia's third largest ethnic group is one of the group's most striking features. Over the centuries, this out-migration has taken diverse forms as it has responded to various impetuses and reflects Indonesia's diverse migratory currents, past and present. This article, which is the first to be done on the subject, explores a little known aspect of Madurese history and society.

Yang, Xiushi
"The New Economic Policy and Permanent Migration in Zhejiang Province, China," Vol. 6 (1), p. 103-134, 1997.

This article examines the impact of economic reforms on the volume and characteristics of permanent migration in Zhejiang Province, China. The data suggest that the new economic policy induced a surge in permanent migration during the post-reform years. Such positive impact of the reform on permanent migration has started to fade away in 1985, as government relaxed its control over residence. Moreover market mechanisms started playing a more important role in employment, exchange, and consumption. The data also suggest that the new economic policy has particularly favored the better educated, and thereby increased educational differentials bet- ween permanent migrants and nonmigrants. For all other characteristics examined, the results show consistently that post-reform migrants are less differentiated from nonmigrants than their pre-reform counterparts.