East Asia’s economic growth has brought the large-scale migration of temporary workers from poorer to richer states. The policies directed towards such migrants have varied from state to state, and these discrepancies have been highlighted by a recent controversy in Hong Kong — the request by a handful of foreign domestic helpers to be granted permanent residence in Hong Kong.
These helpers, from the Philippines, argue that legislation denying them the right to apply for permanent status after seven years residence, usually granted to other immigrants, is in breach of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Their claims, now before the courts, have prompted an outpouring of government-encouraged scare-mongering that the territory is about to be flooded by 100,000 or more new permanent non-Chinese residents. Whatever the outcome of the Hong Kong lawsuit, the request by the work-visa holders for permanent residence could have region-wide implications.
The positive aspects of temporary migration in Asia are well known: For the supplying countries, migrants relieve unemployment and provide a remittance stream of foreign exchange, which supports consumption. For the receiving countries, such policies provide low-paid workers who do undesirable jobs, enable middle-class wives to work and hold down manufacturing costs, helping industries remain internationally competitive — all without burdening state education and health budgets. Negatives include the breakup of families in the supplying countries and the creation of a dependency culture among remittance receivers. Full story...
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These helpers, from the Philippines, argue that legislation denying them the right to apply for permanent status after seven years residence, usually granted to other immigrants, is in breach of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Their claims, now before the courts, have prompted an outpouring of government-encouraged scare-mongering that the territory is about to be flooded by 100,000 or more new permanent non-Chinese residents. Whatever the outcome of the Hong Kong lawsuit, the request by the work-visa holders for permanent residence could have region-wide implications.
The positive aspects of temporary migration in Asia are well known: For the supplying countries, migrants relieve unemployment and provide a remittance stream of foreign exchange, which supports consumption. For the receiving countries, such policies provide low-paid workers who do undesirable jobs, enable middle-class wives to work and hold down manufacturing costs, helping industries remain internationally competitive — all without burdening state education and health budgets. Negatives include the breakup of families in the supplying countries and the creation of a dependency culture among remittance receivers. Full story...
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