The Social Costs of Migration
In this workshop with Dr. Maruja Asis, the effects of migration were discussed.
Migration has benefited the Philippine economy but what are the costs that each OFW face upon departing from the Philippines and leaving their families behind?
Problems
Migration brings about consumerism or colonial mentality. Everything from abroad is good and local products are of inferior quality. Children and other family members tend to neglect the hard work and sacrifice their mothers or fathers have to take. What they see now are the things that they would like to have. Materialism takes over. People compare what they have with others and demand to own the best from the hard earned money of their family members abroad. At times it becomes a competition on who has the most expensive things.
Disintegration of family values also arises from migration. With family members being miles apart, communication has become an issue. New technologies provide means and ways to get people in touch; however, this is not a substitute for actual presence. Family relationships become estranged. And hearing about how wives or husbands engaging in extramarital affairs due to the absence of their partners is no longer surprising for us. Maintaining a good family relationship is a challenge for migrant-affected families.
Filipinos go abroad in search of a better way to provide for their families. Earning more outside the country however brings about dependency. Some family members left behind no longer strive to make a better life for themselves. They no longer look for jobs of their own because they rely so much on the remittances they receive regularly. Even children do not work hard in school because they see that they will be well provided. Consequently, mismanagement of funds occurs. The moneys sent are not invested wisely therefore the improvement of the quality of life that was initially sought, was not realized. In some cases people tend to borrow money which puts the family in a worse situation.
The workshop also pointed out that violation of human rights occurs because of migrants’ invisibility. Our OFWs are exposed to difficult working conditions because they have no voice. Some are being trafficked and there is always the danger that irregular migrants have to face.
Lastly, the group identified brain drain as another cost of migration. Most of the competent nurses, for example, go to another country and offer their services there leaving the inexperienced staff to care for our countrymen. We lose our best minds abroad because there are no career opportunities here.
Recommendations
How do we address these concerns? The workshop group suggested that migrants and their families undergo information education. They must learn about the realities of migration, values formation and financial management to help eliminate, if not, lessen the cost of migration.
Coming up with comprehensive laws to catch illegal recruiters is important to protect our OFWs against abuse here in our own country.
Documentation of cases is likewise important. How are we to care for our migrant bro-thers and sisters when we have no idea about what is happening to them? Lack of data must be dealt with to be able to develop ways to assist the OFWs.
Developing policies that would encourage retention of skilled workers, for example nurses will benefit our country. Maximizing our own man power will contribute to the betterment of the Philippines and its people. |
