GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION GEC 103 CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION SUMMARY MEMBERS: ABEDIN, ALADDIN DELA PEÑA. JAN NICHOLAS DE LEON, JAY SALVADOR LOZANO, EARLICH JIAN UTRERA, CARL JUDE UY, SELWYN GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION SUMMARY CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION Global Migration II. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF MIGRATION A. Challenges of Migration - Separation of Migrants from Family and Support System - Language Barriers - Exploitation B. Opportunities of Migration III. IV. - Economic Opportunities - Employment Prospects - Standard of Living and Living Conditions CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF MIGRATION - Social and Cultural Challenges - Discrimination, Racism, and Prejudice REFERENCES GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION I. INTRODUCTION Global Migration According to an excerpt from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) journal article 'Where Immigrant Students Succeed - A Comparative Review of Performance and Engagement in PISA 2003,' global migration or international migration can be defined as the movement of people across state or country boundaries who stay in the host state for a period of time. Migration can occur for various reasons, such as seeking economic and employment opportunities, fleeing chaos in their homelands, and political conditions in their countries, among others. Migrants are people who migrate, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM) study conducted in 2020, which estimated that one in every thirty people is an immigrant, reaching a global migrant estimate of around 281 million or 3.6% of the world's population in 2020. The Philippines is considered one of the foremost origin countries for migrants worldwide, with an estimated emigrant population of 5.4 million in 2019. Approximately 43% of this population consists of migrant workers, locally called Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who are spread across more than 200 countries and work in diverse occupations, mostly in the Middle East, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Filipinos often migrate to other countries to seek employment to provide for their families. However, some also choose to migrate due to the emerging conflicts and violence in the island of Mindanao, while others migrate due to the Philippines' susceptibility to storms, floods, and earthquakes, which is now worsened by climate change resulting from global warming. II. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF MIGRATION A. Challenges of Migration Challenges in migration might feel common to all the Migrants as they would now venture onto another county with all the different norms, traditions, and practices, as well as different laws and restrictions and political nature. Some of these problems include: Separation of migrants from family and support system, Language barriers, and Exploitation. Migrants may face the challenge of being separated from their families and support networks when moving to a new country, which can cause emotional distress and practical difficulties. They may experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, and have trouble accessing essential services, finding housing, and employment opportunities. Governments and organizations can provide support services, such as language classes and community activities, to help migrants build new social connections and navigate their new environment. GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION The separation from family and support networks can also have significant impacts on mental health and wellbeing. Migrants may experience homesickness, anxiety, and depression, and have difficulty integrating into their new communities. To address this challenge, it is important to provide migrants with opportunities to connect with others and to build new social networks. Initiatives such as cultural events and community activities can help migrants feel more at home in their new country. Language barriers can be a significant challenge for migrants who move to a new country with a different native language. These barriers make it difficult for them to communicate with the local community, including authorities, healthcare professionals, and employers. As a result, migrants may face social isolation, impeded integration, and difficulties accessing vital services. To overcome language barriers, migrants may need to learn the host country's language. However, this process can be difficult and time-consuming, especially if the migrant is not familiar with the language's alphabet or grammar. To support them, language classes or exchange programs may be helpful in improving their language skills and successfully integrating into their new society. Migrants, especially those who are undocumented or have limited legal status. They often face exploitation, which refers to situations where individuals are taken advantage of for personal or financial gain by others. Exploitation can take many forms, including exploitation in the workplace, human trafficking, and forced labor. For instance, an excerpt from the book Border and Rule, “the imperial ruling class overcame the economic crisis of the 1970s by restructuring economies within their advanced capitalist countries and also forcing open lands for capitalist investment and exploiting cheap labor internationally, thus intensifying a global crisis of neoliberal impoverishment and displacement”. This means that as early as the 70’s we can see that the exploitations are prevalent in order for the rich or the capitalist countries to advance. To address exploitation, it is crucial for governments to provide adequate legal protection and support for migrants, as well as for individuals and communities to be aware of the risks of exploitation and speak out against it. Exploitation can have severe physical and mental health consequences for migrants. Human trafficking, for example, involves the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of individuals for labor or sexual exploitation. Forced labor, on the other hand, involves individuals being forced to work against their will, often in hazardous conditions. Governments, communities, and individuals must work together to prevent and prosecute exploitation, and provide support for those who have been exploited. By doing so, we can protect the rights and dignity of migrants, and ensure that they are able to live and work in safety and security. GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION B. Opportunities of Migration On the other hand, as migrants face challenges during migration, they would also need a reason for migrating. The following are the opportunities these migrants would more likely get when migrating. Migration can provide economic opportunities for both individuals and countries. For individuals, migration can offer the chance to access better-paying jobs, improve their standard of living, and send money back to their families. For countries, migration can bring in needed labor, stimulate economic growth, and contribute to cultural diversity. More and more people, especially Filipinos, are leaning into going abroad to find employment this is because of various reasons like better career opportunities, fewer strict qualifications for some jobs, reasonable compensation, opportunities to renew contracts, and more. Let us focus on the Filipinos and their reasons on leaving the country to work abroad. The first reason why Filipinos want to work abroad is because of better career opportunities. Unlike in the Philippines, where there is a limited number of jobs, there are more job openings abroad. This means that you are more likely to find more vacancies and opportunities if you go outside the Philippines. Some good and big companies in the Philippines require their potential employees to have a good line-up of experience, education, and other qualifications. Most companies require the candidates to be college graduates, with years of experience, and so on. If you don't have these things, can you still find a good job in the Philippines? More often than not, you will end up working for a local company that doesn't pay good compensation. One of the reasons why Filipinos want to work abroad is that employers there have fewer strict requirements. Even if you have work experience of less than a year, you will find a job that pays a reasonable salary. Here are the reasons why Filipinos work overseas as OFW’s. Moreover, another reason why Filipinos work abroad is that more reasonable compensation awaits them there. For example, if you are earning 8,000 pesos for a month in the Philippines, you may earn twice in other countries even if your occupation is not a white-collar job. You may consider earning more if you plan to work abroad. As long as qualify for a job there, you will certainly earn more than what you are earning in the Philippines. As migrants settle into the new country they are in, they would now be feeling the positive effects of migration. They could experience an improvement in their standard of living and living conditions. As they find better job opportunities, access to education and healthcare, better living conditions, and cultural integration, their stay in the foreign land could become more bearable. Migration can also offer migrants the chance to live in safer, more stable communities with better infrastructure and housing. This can improve their quality of life and provide a safer environment for their families. It can also provide migrants with access to education and GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION healthcare that may not be available or affordable in their home country. This can lead to improved health outcomes and greater opportunities for upward mobility. However, these situations do not apply to all migrants as many of them constantly experienced challenges and hindrances to the country they’re moving to. Countless abuses and discrimination are being broadcasted everyday about the unfortunate events migrants has to face due to them being migrants and foreign to the land. III. CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF MIGRATION Migration can also present social and cultural challenges for migrants, as they may experience difficulties in adapting to new environments, cultures, and social norms. Some of the social and cultural challenges of migration include: Discrimination, Racism, Prejudice, Social Isolation, and many more, Migrants often face discrimination based on their race, ethnicity, religion, or nationality in their new country. Discrimination can lead to social exclusion, limited job opportunities, and difficulties accessing services such as healthcare and education. It can also create feelings of isolation and hinder integration. Examples of discrimination faced by migrants include being denied a job due to their accent or name, or experiencing negative attitudes from healthcare professionals. To combat discrimination, societies should actively promote equality, respect, and inclusiveness through education, policy changes, and public awareness campaigns. Individuals can also help by speaking out against discrimination and supporting those who are affected by it. In summary, discrimination is a significant challenge faced by migrants that can have longterm consequences on their quality of life. Promoting equality and inclusiveness is crucial for ensuring that migrants are able to fully integrate and contribute to their new communities. GEC103 – CONTEMPORARY ARTS GLOBAL MIGRATION IV. REFERENCES About Migration | International Organization for Migration. (2022, October 13). International Organization for Migration. https://www.iom.int/about-migration O. (2010). OECD Reviews of Migrant Education Closing the Gap for Immigrant Students Policies, Practice and Performance: Policies, Practice and Performance. OECD Publishing. Overcrowded World?: Global Population and International Migration. (2010, January 1). Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/book/278016212/Overcrowded-World-GlobalPopulation-and-InternationalMigration?fbclid=IwAR1JUn09DzUkstiY84ubGW5tPaXfejOKeJ2tCHnHjShOujfYis UemlvgLNY The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move. (2020, June 2). Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/book/462106601/The-Next-Great-Migration-TheBeauty-and-Terror-of-Life-on-theMove?fbclid=IwAR0a3Kak51GhxuDfLlWMwIQA9jFGiwaoZ5lkTPRLm_OUD6pp3 1dbP9zRbJ8 International Organization for Migration. (2020). World Migration Report 2020. Retrieved from https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/wmr_2020.pdf Border and Rule: Global Migration, Capitalism, and the Rise of Racist Nationalism. (n.d.). In Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/read/487837574/Border-and-Rule-Global-MigrationCapitalism-and-the-Rise-of-Racist-Nationalism?mode=full#__search-menu_507606
