Migration: Is it worth the pain?

As I witness the act of a Burmese maid or euphemistically “domestic worker” creating a more presentable house for my family to live in, my mind questions, “Why do they need to do this? Will they ever return to their homeland?” These questions are catalysts for a more layered discussion on the pros and cons of migration using the case study of Burmese workers in Singapore.

Defining migration as the movement of people from one place to another in the geographic perspective would be easy. However, pivotally, in what ways does migration act as a beneficial “tool” for both the parties involved in terms of economic, political and socio-economic reasons (ie. Migrants and Host Country)

Firstly, what are the benefits of migration? From the migrants’ viewpoint, it gives them a fresh opening as they would invariably gain monetary benefits by working in another country where the better exchange rate guarantees a higher home-land return for them. For example, one Singapore dollar is equal to 4.43 kyat – the Myanmar currency. This would mean that their main aim of migrating would be fulfilled as they would be sending sufficient cash for the sustenance of their family back home. This is most important of all the underlying reasons and the tangible benefits due to these sudden riches would be much more relevant than the intangible gains such as forging new bonds with the Singaporean counterparts.

“With its own economy wracked by decades of mismanagement, many Burmese workers look overseas to make their financial dreams come true. But for workers wishing to jump Burma's sinking economic ship to go work in Singapore”

From the host country’s perspective, they would be at the receiving end of invaluable cheap labour, a concept which has been adopted from the Western world. The concept of cheap labour is simple. It just means importing people from less developed countries for lower wages in order to cut operating costs. Singapore has adopted this model as these Burmese workers would be filling the gaps in the blue-collar sector. However, for a country like Singapore where the literacy rate is very high, we do need manual labor to construct buildings, work in hawker centres etc. From a societal viewpoint, the Burmese community may bring about cultural integration and enhancement with the existing races.

However, there are many cons which override the positive effects of migration. The migrant has to clear stringent legal procedures which also include checks on their educational qualifications. If they do not meet the requirements of even the smallest criterion, they would not be given the Employment Pass. Also, their pay of 2000-3000 kyat does not match up to the hype which is generated by those back home. When making ends meet is tough, eking out extra cash for healthcare, social services, and basic entertainment becomes increasingly tougher. Poor living conditions mar their health. Their deteriorating health adversely affects their work and companies which need to ensure quality control retrench them. When this happens, the people back home in Burma would not be able to sustain because they would have started ‘leaning’ on them by then.

The host country would have to consider two big issues. Firstly, illegal immigrants. Secondly, they would have to counter a societal backlash due to these immigrants overtaking the locals in the “occupational ladder.” Illegal immigrants pose a threat as they have the tendency to commit crimes and the country’s security would be affected. While arbitrary checks are conducted, these illegal immigrants are involved in drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

While Singapore is a thriving ground for graduates, not everyone makes the cut in the corporate world. Those who fall below, resort to manual labour. When these Burmese, enter the fray, they would naturally demand a lower price than the not-so-bright Singaporeans. Therefore, they would lose out and a societal backlash on the government’s policies regarding immigration would be raised.

In conclusion, migration is a double-edged sword for both the host country and the immigrant. The Burmese domestic worker is a graduate in Chemistry in Burma. Her plight makes one feel, “Is the pain worth it?” For a four million populace like ours, is it that tough to create or refine a “service” which would appeal to the masses?

As said in the play “Pickle King,” a Sri Lankan doctor is a New Zealand bus driver. The realism may be stark for the Burmese but the push to be economically competitive from the host country is a factor which is hard to ignore.

And... the source of this article is here.