Publication: Traversing the Laws: The Unregulated Movement of Filipino Migrants in Thailand
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Issued Date
2014-01
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Institute for Population and Social Research. Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Journal for Population and Social Studies. Vol.22, No.1 (2014), 53-69
Suggested Citation
Sarausad, Mary Rose Geraldine A., Kritaya Archavanitkul Traversing the Laws: The Unregulated Movement of Filipino Migrants in Thailand. Journal for Population and Social Studies. Vol.22, No.1 (2014), 53-69. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/3293
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Traversing the Laws: The Unregulated Movement of Filipino Migrants in Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Despite policies that provide a legal framework for controlling foreign labor, Thailand continues to experience an increasing trend of both unskilled and skilled labor migrants from neighboring countries. This can be attributed primarily to labor and skills shortages in the country. For the last five years, Thailand has a growing stock of Filipino migrants, and a sizeable number of them are working without a proper work permit. This study investigates and sheds light on the trends in the movement of Filipinos working in Thailand. It focuses on factors facilitating their movement and the various resources employed by migrants to remain in the country. Findings from a survey of 354 Filipino migrants in various provinces and at the Thailand-Cambodia border, as well as from in-depth interviews with 25 migrants are presented. The findings reveal that most Filipino migrants are highly skilled and well educated, and that they tend to come from certain regions and ethnicities in the Philippines. New patterns of mobility and different paths enabling Filipinos to work and remain in Thailand are revealed; many migrants switch between regular and irregular status, taking advantage of various mechanisms and resources in the process.