Migrants in UAE
The PUSH and/or PULL factors which made migrants move to UAE?
Migrants that choose to live in the UAE come from different countries, Africans, Portuguese and Asians among others. They are made do so due to varied pull and push factors which vary from one country to another. In the UAE, these pull and push factors that make migrants to move to the UAE. In terms of the push factors, they include poor levels of wages and lack of employment for the able population. This is common in the poor countries and desire to get jobs and better wages in urban parts as well as rich countries (Misra, 2007). Basically, it is the absence of economic success brought about by globalization that has led about to an increase in wealth between nations, rural and urban regions. This can be attributed to economic policies that are created by market liberalization and changes in the laws of the financing bodies. This leads to the widening gap and lack of jobs. A good example is the increase in affordable products from the US through the application of Trade Agreements that led to about two million farmers to be out of jobs. They hence migrate to urban and other nations leading to high competition and migration to other nations like the UAE.
The Pull factor is the demand for affordable labour leading to labor migration. Migrant workers in most cases take up positions that the locals do not want due to their relative low wages or poor state of working (Misra, 2007). Varied parts of the economy have registered an increase in migrant population like construction. Additionally, employers prefer migrant workers as they are flexible and easy to mould. This make them more in demand.
Where migrants choose to live?
Due to the desire to diversify the economy, most of the industries that are quick growing due to the focus that UAE has accorded them and the increase in migrant population in those areas. This include tourism, real estates and manufacturing. Most migrant workers have hence shifted their focus from oil production that has been rocked by poor demand and recession that hit the world most recently. Dubai has hence been the choice of location for most migrants due to their immense wealth that make up the visual images of the city. The city has been an integrate part of a keen market strategy to strengthen tourism as well as the purchasing ability it has (Misra, 2007). The recent International Trade Congress that was held in 2011 stated Dubai has having the tallest buildings, most comfortable hotels, huge shopping malls and several artificial islands.
Stereotyping or prejudice that exist?
Even the vast wealth in structures among other areas of the country and Dubai where most migrants are located, the reality is contrasted. The vast wealth does not, in real sense, reach the huge population of expatriates. The International human rights organizations have noted and raise among the most extreme forms of labor abuses for the group that earns the least level of wages (Sonmez, et al, 2011). The most adverse form of exploitation arises due to Kafala sponsorship programme that issues varying strengths to sponsors and employers in getting to know the legal location of employees. As a consequence, employers are accorded complete authority over the migrant worker’s wages, working state, food, ability to alter employment opportunities and their ability to go back home.
Two of the major issues connected to this is debt bondage and the taking away of passports. It has been a norm for the firms that deal in employment to issue high recruitment costs to workers that come from their former countries under incorrect assurances of great wages (Sonmez, et al, 2011). Workers when they get to the country they get themselves to be indebted to their employers with poor earnings (varying between US$ 170 and $ 200 monthly) to be able to repay what they owe. Additionally, forced labor arises due to the employers withholding the passports of their workers. Hence, any worker who opts to leave the employer’s house is at risk of illegality in UAE. They are forced work and be at their employer’s residence and undergo extreme working state.
The human rights report state that the workers undergo poor working states; they work for extended periods with a day’s break for every week. Additionally, they face debt bondage and exploitation in their earning as well as sexual abuse.
Differences between the US and Mexican migrants
The Mexicans migrants to the United States are among the highest in the country adding up to 11 million in 2006. They are in the US with due search for economic success and political instabilities in their home country. There are varied difference between the US and the migrant Mexicans in varied aspects. In terms of religion, the US is a country of mixed religion with the Christians being pre-dominant (Meneses, 2008). While the Mexicans are similarly Christians but domination is by the Roman Catholic. The Mexicans are Spanish speakers with recognition of Amerindian languages as being national, while the US is notably of British influence hence speak English. The Mexicans are strict to their culture and traditions, this comprises of traditional laws that are observed. The Americans observe an integration of varied cultures that are not tight as in the Mexicans.
How the Mexican migrants are adapting to life in the US
The Mexicans have adapted to live in the United States through assimilation. In the 2000 census, the Mexicans are slowly learning how to speak English though at a low level of fluency in comparison to other immigrants. This is reliant on the time spent while in the country. The wage income of the Mexicans has grown to be on an average level of about $21,000 annually while some are better (Meneses, 2008). Most of the Mexicans work at varied levels in the country to make them acquire such wages. The policies in the country offer them a good cushion to progress. In terms of education, they are highly educated with some with high school diplomas.
Conclusion
The Migrant population is one that faces a number of issues that forces them to go other nations or are attracted to other nations. These factors may vary from one nation to another. The paper has focused on the UAE and the factors range from labor needs to economic success. The workers however face varied adverse states that vary. A good example is working for extended hours, poor pay and with no break. This has been noted by the human rights groups and is blamed on the policies in the country. The country has gone on to focus on the US and the Mexican immigrants. The paper has focused on the contrasts that exists and the Mexicans are slowly adapting to the American life style. Generally focusses on migrant workers and their state of work in their acquired home countries. This may change with new policies applied and change of attitude towards migrant workers.
References
Meneses, A. (2008). Mexican, Central American immigrants assimilating more slowly, says study. El Reportero 18(14).
Misra, N. (2007). The Push & Pull of Globalization: How the Global Economy Makes Migrant Workers Vulnerable to Exploitation. Retrieved on 3rd December 2013 from: http://www.solidaritycenter.org/files/pubs_policybrief_migration.pdf
Sonmez, S.; Apostolopoulos, Y.; Tran, D.; Rentrope, S. (2011). Human rights and health disparities for migrant workers in the UAE. Health and Human Rights: An International Journal, 13(7), pp. 12.
