International Conference “Weaving the Threads of Migration, Sustainable Development and The Pandemic”

Host:

• Asian Research Center for Migration

Co-hosts:

• Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute
• College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University
• Global Alliance Against Traffic of Women
• ILO (International Labor Organization) Thailand
• SEA Junction

The Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM) at the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS), Chulalongkorn University is organising its annual international conference to commemorate
International Migrants Day on the 17^th December 2020. This year’s theme examines the impacts of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on migration, mobility and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Thailand, ASEAN and beyond.

Although Covid-19 is a global health crisis, state securitization, closure of borders and restrictions on travel have affected all types of migrants, migration and mobility. Disruptions made to national economies have affected migrants’ incomes and livelihoods. Pre-existing inequalities in terms of access to health care, education and other basic needs have become magnified as well as new forms of disparities created. Growing evidence also shows that the impacts of the pandemic are deeply gendered, including increased risks of violence against women and children.

What is now clear is that the pandemic presents a transnational challenge that will re-shape economies into the foreseeable future with repercussions for migrants, migration and mobility. Major strides made in recent years in terms of migrants’ rights, welfare and protection (for both voluntary and forced migrants) under the 2018 Global Compact for Migration and the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) frameworks may come to a halt with states looking more inward and prioritizing national interests to prevent further outbreaks of Covid-19 and worsening economic recession.

As we navigate through these uncertain times, this conference will bring together academics, government, civil society, national and international organisations, activists and the private sector to present, discuss and exchange knowledge and perspectives on the unfolding situation concerning migration, mobility and sustainable development in Thailand, origin countries in ASEAN and beyond this region.

On this special occasion, ARCM at the Institute of Asian Studies in collaboration with the College of Population Studies, Chula Research Cluster on Labour and Research Cluster on ASEAN, together with all co-hosts agree to launch the Network on Labour, Migration and Sustainable Development in ASEAN by signing a Letter of Intent to confirm our commitment in the cooperation on academic and research activities to achieve the SDGs.

Program and Schedule:

Panel Descriptions:

Panel 1: Covid-19, (Im)mobility and Responsive Policies for Labour Migration

Convenor: Emeritus Professor Dr. Supang Chantavanich, expert adviser, ARCM 

Usually community resilience has to do with relocation. But Covid 19 lockdown and national border closing become obstacles to their coping strategies. Migrant workers in foreign destinations are forced either to rush back home or stay with uncertainty in countries of destination. In Southeast Asia, migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar were working in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Their pre-existing inequalities are exacerbated by the pandemic and they are left at the intersection of vulnerabilities. To fight against such injustice, state (both destination and origin), employers and CSO networks can play vital roles in protecting workers during such crisis. This panel examines the impacts of the pandemic on migrant workers and discusses possible responsive policies for labour migration.

Panel 2: The Status of Children During and Post-Pandemic

Convenor: Dr. Premjai Vungsiriphal, Deputy Director, ARCM

The Covid 19 pandemic affects all people around the world, including children both locally and migrant children. Children are generally vulnerable because of their age, less ability to self-protect and are dependent on adults in one way or another. Such vulnerabilities can be more severe when they intersect with ethnicity, legal or migrant status.  During the pandemic, some children’s parents or care-giver may have lost their jobs or earn less income, lack health protection, and have limited access to education. This panel will present the situation of children and various impacts that have ensued as a result of the pandemic.

Panel 3: Migrants’ Experiences and Situation Updates from the Origin Countries

Convenor: Dr. Pyone Myat Thu, Researcher, ARCM

In March 2020, tens of thousands of migrant workers rushed to return to their origin countries ahead of Thailand shutting its national borders, due to fear of the spread of Covid-19, reduced or (fear of) loss of income and employment, lack of social protection, in addition to visa and work permit related concerns. During the same period, overseas Thai migrant workers flooded back home from other destination countries. This panel shifts the focus onto migrants’ precarious experiences with the outbreak of Covid-19 and also provides an update of current local situations and responses in the origin countries.

Panel 4: Lessons from the Pandemic: The Future of Work and Sustainable Development

Convenor: Associate Professor Dr. Naruemon Thabchumpon, Director, ARCM

The Asian Development Bank estimates global unemployment could affect between 158 million and 242 million people due to the economic disruptions of Covid-19, with 70% of job losses in Asia and the Pacific. Within this global climate of economic recession, the World Bank projects Thailand’s economy to shrink by 5% in 2020 and take more than two years to return to pre-COVID-19 GDP output levels. Consequently, both Thai and migrant workers’ employment, livelihoods and well-being will continue to be affected into the foreseeable future. This panel will examine current and future issues related to labour and workforce, paying close attention to rights at work, gender, skills development and progress made towards achieving the SDGs. 

Panel 5: Post Covid-19, Resilience and Safe Cities

Convenor: Dr Ratchada Jayagupta

The Global Cities Free of Slavery Project is the global collaboration between Rights Labs – University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, BRIC Policy Center – The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, and the Asian Research Center for Migration at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. The project aims to promote visibility to actors from public, private and CSO sectors involved in the eradication of slavery, and social groups vulnerable to modern slavery in the cities, aiming to strength resilience considering the diversity of aspects that interfere in the vulnerability to modern slavery in each city. The project oriented its debates to the effects of the pandemic on patterns of modern slavery, considering the impact of the emergency State policies on the labour market. Later, the topic of “GLOBAL CITIES FREE OF SLAVERY PARTNERS FORUM: A Covid-19 IMPACT ANALYSIS” was discussed on the impact of Covid-19 among partner universities.

Host

Asian Research Center for Migration

The Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM), based in the Institute of Asian Studies at Chulalongkorn University, is internationally recognised for undertaking timely, evidence-based and critical research on cross-border migration trends and processes in Thailand and more broadly, Southeast Asia. It seeks to provide information on migration-related themes to the general public in the form of published research, statistical data and policy recommendations. ARCM also offers its expertise and services to individuals and organisations through lectures, seminars, trainings and consultancies.

Co-host

SEA Junction

SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions- from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on twitter and Instagram @seajunction

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