Disaggregating Recruitment: Uncovering the Expectations, Obligations, and Hidden Steps in the Labor Migrant Recruitment Process

Disaggregating Recruitment: Uncovering the Expectations, Obligations, and Hidden Steps in the Labor Migrant Recruitment Process

Partner: New York University, Abu Dhabi

Locale: Peshawar, Swat, Abbottabad, Mirpur, Dina, Jhelum, Muzaffarabad, Dhirkot

Time Frame: Nov 2016 to July 2017

Team Members: Syed Ali Wasif naqvi, Waseem Iftikhar Janjua

Introduction

Concern over the lives of non-skilled labor migrants in Gulf Co-operation Council states have resulted in multiple studies of migrants' living and employment conditions in the host countries. However, it is becoming increasingly recognized that migrants' circumstances are directly influenced by the information, expectations, and obligations migrants have before leaving their home countries. This research project, therefore, situates itself in Pakistan as a major contributor of GCC unskilled labour force. Through this pilot project, the study will try to understand the misinformation, expectations, obligations and relationships low-skilled labour migrants have before leaving Pakistan. A rather innovative approach is being taken in this project and all project participants will receive cell phones to collect data at micro-temporal intervals via an app-based survey questionnaire. The goal is to understand the process of labour recruitment -- how information, expectations, and obligations change as aspiring migrants attempt to leave for the GCC. To maintain a gender balance, the number of participants will be maintained for a better understanding of the issues surrounding the aspiring migrants.

Project Status:

Project team is in the first phase of implementation. App is being developed for the smart phones and participants are being recruited.

Project Focal person, Syed Ali Wasif Naqvi; (wasif@sdpi.org)