Studies found that reasons for migration include employment and education opportunities or family relations. (Photo: VNA) Scholars and professionals from Vietnam, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Thailand andChina gathered on October 24 at the Vietnam Women's Academy (VWA) in Hanoi toshare their findings from migration studies, especially in regard to genderissues, health care and social protection.
Hosted by the VWA and the RoK’s Chonnam National University, the event aimed atsolutions that mitigate the downside of migration and enhance migrants’adaptation during the social integration process, thereby promoting genderequality and sustainable development.
In the opening remarks to the conference, the VWA President Dr Tran Quang Tien saidthat migration has been contributing to socio-economic development, balancinglabour distributions and promoting international exchanges and technologytransfer.
According to a 2022 report by the International Organisation for Migration(IOM), the number of international migrants has been on the rise for the pastfive decades.
As of 2020, the world counted approximately 281 million migrants, equivalent to3.6% of the global population.
This figure is 128 million more than in 1990, and over three times theestimated number in 1970, said the report.
“Migration is also changing gender roles in the family, as migrant workers playan increasingly important role in the family’s livelihoods, financial andincome improvements,” he added.
The shift in dividing household chores has been found to have positive impactson the relationships among family members, said Dr Tien.
However, there are multiple issues that need more in-depth studies, such associal welfare, safety in labour and in the migration process, he noted.
According to a study on gender and migration by Dr Dang Nguyen Anh of theVietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam placed second in Southeast Asia interms of international migration.
With women accounting for 55.5% of domestic migrants and 52% of internationalmigrants, the study also noted that there has also been a feminisation ofmigration which reflects the shift in gender norms and women’s roles.
The study pointed out that gender also affects the decision-making process ofmigrating, residing and even returning, yet this factor has not receivedadequate attention from migration studies.
Another study by Dr Truong Thuy Hang of the VWA pointed out that migrationnetworks play an important role in social integration, both in the destinationcountries and when migrant workers decide to return to their homeland.
However, even with the increase in knowledge, skills and financial capacity,those who return might encounter challenges in life back home in terms of bothemployment and mental wellbeing.
Most migrants return to Vietnam still doing jobs that they previously worked atbefore migrating, unrelated to the skills and knowledge they acquired aboard, thestudy found.
This is due to a lack of equivalent employment, for example in high technology,for returning migrant workers in Vietnam, one of the district-level leaders in HauGiang province participating in the study said.
Migrant workers who decided to return also face the stigma of “abandoning theirfamilies” from their local community.
A returned female migrant worker in Hai Phong city in the study also recommendsthat the local government have a way to provide mental support to returningmigrant workers and their families.
“Local authorities should provide mental support as it is only with a happyspirit that they build a stable life. It’s hard to continue working if theirmental well-being is not alright.”/.
VNA
