Governance of International Migration: Perspectives of Sending Countries (A Research Forum)

Governance of International Migration: Perspectives of Sending Countries
Afrasian Research Centre - Third World Studies Center Joint Research Forum
4 February 2013 Monday 9:00 am – 11:45am
Third World Studies Center (TWSC) Conference Room
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Please click here for the forum's audiovisual recordings and here for Dr. Jorge V. Tigno's PowerPoint presentation.

The University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center (UP TWSC) and Afrasia Research Centre of Ryukoku University are co-hosting a Research Forum entitled “Governance of International Migration: Perspectives of Sending Countries, which is aimed at (1) sharing research outputs, views and ideas by researchers from the Philippines and Japan on the said topic, with special focus on Japan and the Philippines, and (2) exploring some possible research agendas in which the two research institutes can collaborate in the near future. TWSC and Afrasian Centre are currently in the process of drafting a Memorandum of Understanding, (the signing of which is expected to be held within this school year), under which joint research will be actively pursued and a teleconferencing system is provided for the use of TWSC for its international research and networking activities. This Forum will be attended by professors and research fellows of the Afrasian Centre and TWSC, as well as students and researchers from UP. This Forum is also part of a 3-day Workshop of Afrasian Centre in which the delegation will visit several stakeholders involved in international migration, such as the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), NGOs and several communities of migrants and those “left-behind” in order to listen to them and understand their perspectives on the matter.

PROGRAM

9:00 – 9:30
Registration

9:30 – 9:40
Opening Remarks
Michael L. Tan, PhD (TBC)
Dean, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of the Philippines-Diliman

9:40 -9:50
Introduction of Speakers
Ma. Reinaruth D. Carlos PhD
Professor, Ryukoku University, Japan

9:50-10:30
Presentations
“The Governance of International Migration”
Jorge V. Tigno, DPA
Associate Professor Department of Political Science,
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy,
University of the Philippines-Diliman

“Migration Governance: Harmonizing the Interests of the Labor-
Sending Countries with those of Labor-Receiving Countries”
Habibul Khondker, PhD
Professor, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

10:30-11:00
Comments
Jean Encinas-Franco, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy,
University of the Philippines-Diliman

Chizuko Sato, PhD
Researcher, JETRO- Institute of Developing Economies, Japan

11:00-11:35
Open Forum

11:35-11:45
Synthesis
Aysun Uyar, PhD
Assistant Professor, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan



MODERATOR
Maria Ela Atienza, PhD
Director, Third World Studies Center (TWSC)
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-Diliman



ABSTRACTS

The Governance of International Migration
Jorge V. Tigno, DPA
Department of Political Science
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-Diliman

The (national) governance of international migration raises some serious concerns about the integrity and sovereignty of states. International migration poses a challenge to states primarily because of the numerous tensions that exist between the local / national, the international, and the global / transnational. This is one reason why there's a high degree of uncertainty, ambiguity, or ad hoc-ness manifested in the migration policies of states whether they are in destination or in sending areas. State governance of international migration is such a daunting project that it requires strenuous efforts on the part of the national government to steer or direct the phenomenon towards the attainment of national development goals. At the global level migration governance requires serious consideration of commonalities and similarities (which are few) but also attempts to overcome the differences and the specificities within each country (which are many). Any attempt to craft a national migration governance framework much incorporate a coherent set of national goals through which the governance experience itself might be evaluated including consistencies with existing global norms and best practices.

Migration Governance: Harmonizing the Interests of the Labor-Sending Countries with those of Labor-Receiving Countries
Habibul Khondker, PhD
Professor,Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E

In this paper I explore migration governance by considering whether the interests of the labor-sending countries with those of labor-receiving countries can be harmonized. I would consider the cases of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a labor receiving country and those of Bangladesh, a labor-sending country. Rapid infrastructural and socio-economic developments in the UAE combined with the demographic realities of the country led to the reliance of temporary contract workers from various labor-surplus Asian countries. While temporary migrant workers they play an important role in the UAE economy and through their remittances also play a major role in their respective national economies, their conditions often remain precarious.

Improvement in the governance of the temporary labor migration can be of great benefit both for the stake-holders involved, namely, the labor receiving country, the labor sending countries and also the contract laborers. The UAE government has taken leadership in this regard by initiating the Abu Dhabi Dialogue in January 2008 in partnership with International Organization for Migration (IOM) where all the major stake-holders were present: the representatives of the labor sending countries, labor receiving countries, international NGOs such as Human Rights Watch, IGOs like IOM, ILO, etc.

Since the late 1970s Bangladesh has been a labor sending country vis-à-vis the UAE. As many as 700,000 Bangladeshis now work in the UAE dominating the construction and other labor-intensive work. Bangladesh government has shown keen interest in promoting labor-migration as a strategy for national development. Income from remittance has continued to soar in recent years reaching 12 billion US dollars in 2012.

To improve governance a clearer understanding of the best practices in each of the labor sending countries and learning from each other’s experiences is of utmost importance.



PHOTOS FROM THE FORUM

Nagagampanan ba ng KAPP ang Pagpapasidhi ng Nasyonalismong Pilipino sa UP? (A Public Forum)

"Nagagampanan ba ng KAPP ang Pagpapasidhi ng Nasyonalismong Pilipino sa UP?" is the fifth forum of the 2012 TWSC Public Forum Series, "Ang Tama ba sa UP, Tama rin sa Bayan?" This forum is also part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Please click here for the playlist of audiovisual recordings of the forum.

SCHEDULE

23 January 2013 (Wednesday), 1:00 - 4:00 PM

VENUE
Audio-Visual Room (PH 207), Palma Hall, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines-Diliman

PROGRAM

1:00 - 1:15

REGISTRATION

1:15 - 1:25
OPENING REMARKS

Michael L. Tan, PhD

Dean

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman

1:25 - 1:35

INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKERS

1:35 - 1:55

Dan Reynald R. Magat

Professor

Department of Philosophy

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman

1:55 - 2:15
Ricardo Ma. Nolasco, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Linguistics

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman

2:15 - 2:45
Elizabeth Protacio-De Castro, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Psychology

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman

Rogelia Pe-Pua, PhD
Former Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
University of the Philippines-Diliman and
Associate Professor
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
University of New South Wales

2:45 - 3:05

Neil Martial R. Santillan, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of History and

Associate Dean for Administration and External Affairs

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman

3:05 - 3:55

OPEN FORUM

3:55 - 4:00

SYNTHESIS

MODERATOR

Maria Lourdes G. Rebullida, DPA

Professor

Department of Political Science

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy

University of the Philippines-Diliman 

ABOUT THE FORUM

In the University of the Philippines (UP) Charter of 2008, UP is mandated to “provide opportunities for training and learning in leadership, responsible citizenship, and the development of democratic values, institutions and practice through academic and non-academic programs, including sports and the enhancement of nationalism and national identity.” The last phrase seemingly an afterthought in the charter of the National University would strike one as peculiar, if not disconcerting. It calls for an enquiry—more correctly a critical measure—on the enhancement of nationalism and national identity in UP.

The College of Social Sciences and Philosophy or Kolehiyo ng Agham Panlipunan at Pilosopiya (KAPP) is considered the seat of foundational education in UP, with some, if not most, of its disciplines having been considered front liners in the promotion of Filipino nationalism and national identity. In the 1970s, Sikolohiyang Pilipino or Filipino psychology was established, according to Rogelia Pe-Pua and Elizabeth Protacio-De Castro, “to foster national identity and consciousness” through its identification of “indigenous concepts and approaches in Filipino psychology.” At around the same time, Pantayong Pananaw or in its revised translation “From Us For Us Perspective,” sought to re-examine Philippine history based on the Filipino perspective and to strengthen the Philippine nation through the use of the Filipino language. Linguistics, originally founded as Philippine Linguistics, has promoted mother tongue-based instruction in the country. In Sociology, we have Philippine sociology and the resolute call for local culture to inform social science constructs and research methods. In Philosophy, courses on Filipino Social Philosophy and Mga Paksa sa Pilosopiyang Pilipino are taught.

In gauging the KAPP as one of the pillars of the University in the enhancement of nationalism and national identity, this forum thus provides a platform for key representatives and students from the social science disciplines to reflect and debate on the following enquiries: What discourses, including indigenization attempts if applicable (e.g., from theorizing to practice, including courses developed and taught), have been developed by the social science disciplines regarding Filipino nationalism and national identity? How have these discourses been sustained over the years? Finally, do the different disciplines reflect the mandate of the University in enhancing nationalism and national identity in Philippine society?

CALL FOR PAPERS: Kasarinlan Open Issue

Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies accepts article submissions for its future open issues. There is no deadline for submission of articles. Interested authors may make their submission any time of the year.

Kasarinlan is an internationally refereed journal published twice a year by the Third World Studies Center, University of the Philippines-Diliman. It provides a forum for critical and interdisciplinary perspectives on the Philippines and the Third World with special reference to political economy. The journal is interested in publishing theoretically grounded papers based on original empirical research that is cogent and concise. Interested contributors must submit a draft article (6,000 but not more than 8,000 words) with an abstract (not more than 300 words) and six keywords. The manuscript must strictly follow the Chicago Manual of Style. For the full author guidelines please click here.

All inquiries concerning the submission of articles should be addressed to: 

The Editor 

Kasarinlan: Philippine Journal of Third World Studies 

Third World Studies Center 

Lower Ground Floor, Palma Hall 

College of Social Sciences and Philosophy 

University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 

1101 Philippines P.O. Box 210 

Telefax: +63 2 920 5428 +63 2 981 8500 ext. 2488 

Inquiries made via email (kasarinlan@gmail.com) are also welcome.