funded by:

Translocal connections & social resilience of Thai migrant

workers in Singapore

Living between the village and the global city

Simon Alexander Peth Department of Geography, Bonn University

Conference: Connecting the Dots

2

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Labour Migration

Young farmer in Nangrong,

Thailand in 2015

Thai migrant workers,

Singapore in 1994

(Photo : Srikhoon Jiangkratok) (Photo : Simon A. Peth)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

3

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Research Area

Singapore

MYANMAR / BURMA

LAOS

CAMBODIA

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

INDIA

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

BRUNEI

Chiang Rai

Phitsanulok

Buri Ram

Udonthani

CHINA

VIETNAM

(Map: L. Porst & S. Peth / TransRe Project)

Hat Yai

Bangkok

Conference: Connecting the Dots

4

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Multi-sited Method

PLACES OF ORIGIN

PLACES OF DESTINATION

Udon

Buriram

BKK Hat Yai

Singapore

2015

Buriram

2016

An

alys

is P

has

e

Udon

Udon

Hat Yai

SG

Buriram

Udon

BKK

Explanation:

Places of origin in rural Thailand

Translocal interrelations

Migrants/migration networks

Follow the trajectories; research process

Places of migration and destinations (e.g. rural and urban Thailand, Singapore, Germany)

An

alys

is P

has

e

Conference: Connecting the Dots

5

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

» Semi-structured interviews » PRA & group discussions

» Observations » Photo interviews

Multi-sited Method

Conference: Connecting the Dots

6

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

History of Thai Labour Migration

Peasant revolts in 1973

Increasing international migration

(Source: National Archive of Singapore)

Opening of the labour market in Singapore in 1968

First reported Thai workers 1978 in Singapore

Conference: Connecting the Dots

7

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Fast Development of Singapore

(Photos: S. Jiangkratok 1994; W. Zhang 2011 under CC BY 2.0)

(Photo : under CC BY 2.0)

1994

Conference: Connecting the Dots

8

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Fast Development of Singapore

(Photos: S. Jiangkratok 1994; W. Zhang 2011 under CC BY 2.0)

(Photo : under CC BY 2.0)

2011

Conference: Connecting the Dots

9

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Labour Migration to SG

High level of organization: Training centers in Thailand; agents; social networks

strict controle through MoM in Singapore; quota of foreign workers; Levy Rate

» Singapore can steer the proportion, nationality and sectoral distribution of foreign workers within months.

Rebar training for basic skill test in Chiang Mai, Thailand (Photo: S. Peth)

Work permit & Coretrade Registration of a Thai woker in SG (Photo: S. Peth)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

10

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Labour Migration to SG

Migration (infra)structures Hightech dormitories with up

16,000 inmates Meeting places of migrants

» Translocal structures

Bangla Square in Little India, Singapur (Photo: S. Peth)

Tuas View Dormitory, Singapur (Photo: S. Peth)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

11

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Hot spot of Translocality

The Golden Mile Complex

Thai supermarket

eateries & restaurants

remittance services

Bars & Karaoke

Thai Disco

hairdresser

greengrocer

grocery shops

Thai speaking doctor/ clinic

Tour operator

money exchanger

Amulet shops

Liquor stores

newspaper shop

apparel store (cloths)

phone shop

beauty salon

Office of Labour Affairs of the Thai Royal Embassy

betting office

law office

massage

tattoo studio

fortune teller & House and car blessing

Conference: Connecting the Dots

12

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

State Controle & Social Exclusion

Conference: Connecting the Dots

13

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Focus Point Home

(Photo: Srikhoon Jiangkratok)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

14

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Migration & Resilience

What does this mean for resilience?

Resilience of whom?

Resilient to what?

Temporality of resilience?

Conference: Connecting the Dots

15

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Origin of Thai Workers in SG

Who are the people migrating?

» Rural men / farmers moving into a neo-fordistic system

Bangkok

Chiang Rai

Phitsanulok

Buri Ram

Udonthani

The provinces of origin of Thai migrant workers registered in Singapore in 2015

(Source: Office of Labour Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy Singapore; Cartography: Simon A. Peth; n= 1214)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

16

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

The Role of Remittances

(Source of data: TransRe Project / University of Bonn, S. A. Peth)

Comment: this figure is an aggregated depiction based on a self-assessment of HHs with international migrants. It only represents the perceived proportions of the different sources of income.

Importance of international remittances for HH income

Use of local income:

Daily expenses

Insurance Agricultural input

Saving

Local laborer

Education

Remittances

Farm income (incl. crops &livestock

Non-farm income / small scalebusiness

Salary from regular job

Lease income

Daily labour

Use of remittances:

Education Car & Motorbikes

New house

Daily expenses

Purchase of land Insurances Agricultural input Agricultural machines Local laborer Saving

Conference: Connecting the Dots

17

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Social Remittances

Israel Singapore

(Photo: Srikhoon Jiangkratok) (Photo: Therdtoon Thanomsang)

Conference: Connecting the Dots

18

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Conclusion

coping adaptation transformation Capacity improves during migration

Improves depending on how remittances are used

Higher non-farm income with the next and better educated generation

Migration risks

Migration phase

Pay back debts Full remittances

Future plans & investments Social remittances

Resilience:

Conference: Connecting the Dots

19

Simon A. Peth Department of Geography

Questions

Thank you