Name
Course
University
Tutor
Date
Annotated Bibliography: Human Geography
Effects of the Indian and Philippine worker on the economic, political, social and cultural issues of GCC countries (Qatar) and South Asia
Introduction
The citations listed below concern the research subject of how the Indian and Philippine worker in the GCC (Qatar) affects the economic, political, and social matters of their country as well as that of Qatar. The sources consist of subjects of interests in international labor, migration, economic development, socio-cultural influences and political decisions. The underlying argument is that the large workforce from India and Philippine to the GCC promotes economic development in the two countries although with drawbacks such as lack of skilled labor, economic fluctuations and employee relations. The research is expected to be successful because this is a widely studied topic in labor issues. However, sources that specifically focused on labor issues from Indian and Philippine workers in Qatar were limiting, and therefore, the entire GCC approach is used.
Berrebi, Claude, Martorell, Francisco, and Tanner, Jeffery. “Qatar’s labor markets at a crucial crossroad.” Middle East Journal, 2009, vol. 63(3): 421-442.
Berrebi, Martorell, and Tanner discuss the economic situation in Qatar in which large reserves of natural gas can help the country to sustain economic growth. However, this article addresses the aspect of lack of skilled labor within the Qatar population and the labor market structure in which foreigners outnumber the Qatar laborers. The article suggests that policy makers should address the acquisition of valuable skills among the Qatari workers.
This article will assist in analyzing how the Qatar labor structure influences the social, economic, and political issues in Qatar and the GCC countries, with focus on the nation’s economic autonomy.
Bloomberg. “Filipino workers sending more money home.” Gulf News, 2010, October 16. Accessed November 10, 2010, from HYPERLINK “http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/filipino-workers-sending-more-money-home-1.696961” http://gulfnews.com/business/economy/filipino-workers-sending-more-money-home-1.696961
This is a website dedicated to reporting news about the business and economic issues in the Gulf region. The article discusses about how capital flows to South Asia have increased as the economic growth of the region lures investments as exports rise. It is observed that some of the policymakers in the South Asian countries are forced to sell their currencies in order to curb appreciation. Remittances from the Arab labor markets have put an upward pressure on the peso.
This article will assist in analyzing the economic impact that Philippines who work in the GCC have on their country.
Cheng, Shu-Ju. Serving the household and the nation: Filipina domestics and the politics of identity in Taiwan. UK: Lexington Books, 2006
Cheng addressees labor issues of Philippine foreign female workers by asserting that they work in the most devalued occupations abroad. Cheng examines how nationalist politics under the globalization context shapes the experiences of migrant women. Sarcastically, Cheng states that Philippine female workers play a central role in global economy through the provision of emotional and erotic labor abroad by undertaking professions such as maid and prostitution.
This book will be useful in the final research in the discussion as a source of information for issues that affect the workers both abroad and in their countries by integrating social and economic aspects.
Doha, Amitabh. “Qatar to continue to top GCC Growth.” The Qatar Tribune, vol. 5(1479):1, 16 2010, September 22. Accessed November 10, 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://www.qatartribune.com/data/20100922/pdf/main.pdf” http://www.qatartribune.com/data/20100922/pdf/main.pdf.
Doha observes that Qatar is the only country in the Gulf that sees deflation while the others experience inflation by integrating the analysis from the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Economic weekly report. Doha argues that Qatar is set to retain its position as the fastest growing economy in the GCC in the current time. This article simply summarizes the economic performances of the GCC countries in the recent years.
This article would present a good introductory background for my study as I seek to determine the factors influencing the economic performance of Qatar and the other GCC countries.
Halaby,Jamal. “Philippines tries to aid citizens abused on jobs in Middle East,” St. Louis Post – Dispatch, 2009, January 19, pg. A15
Halaby, reports in this newspaper that some Philippine women in the construction and services industry in Jordan were taking refuge at police custody because of fleeing from abusive employers. The article reports on how the Philippine government mediates the issue by requesting the workers to return home at the verge of low wages and abusive employers. Jordan, UAE and Saudi Arabia are mentioned as the states with the highest prevalence of employer abuse on foreign workers.
This article will aid in a portion of my research by indicating issues that face Philippine and Indian workers in the foreign GCC countries.
International Labor Organization (ILO). Social and labor issues concerning migrant workers in the construction industry. ILO, 1995.
This book illustrates the social and labor issues that migrant workers experience in the construction industry in the foreign nations. Basically, the book reports on the importance of incorporating international labor to the GCC as it boosts economy for both the participating regions. However, the ILO report warns that there are cases of devaluation of human rights through workers’ harassment of laborers from India, Philippines and other Asian countries.
This book will aid in the finding section of the research by highlighting social issues facing migrant workers and what it means to the economy back home and the host country.
Kapiszewski, Andrzej. Arab versus Asian migrant workers in the GCC countries. UN, Economic and Social Affairs, 2006, May 22: pp 4-21. Accessed November 10, 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/EGM_Ittmig_Arab/P02_Kapiszewski.pdf” http://www.un.org/esa/population/meetings/EGM_Ittmig_Arab/P02_Kapiszewski.pdf.
Kapiszewski discusses the emigration situation that occurs between the GCC and South East Asia countries. Kapiszewski states that emigration in search for employment is generally supported by the governments of these countries for the purpose of easing pressure on labor markets, reducing employment, and accelerating development. Kapiszewski observes that the migration of Indian workers to the GCC hastens development in various regions of India and influences the GCC environment.
This article is very useful for my project as it relays the various ways in which expatriate labor force in the GCC impacts the economy, politics, and social structure of the GCC states.
Lucas, Robert. International migration and economic development lessons from low income countries. US: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2008.
Lucas addresses the issue of international migration and explains how the phenomenon associates with economic development especially in low economy countries. Lucas illustrates his argument by using examples from the Gulf countries and the South Asia countries in which international labors shift to the GCC. Lucas notes that the subject could be of political controversy but policy makers should re-think of how poverty can be alleviated through international labor markets.
This book will contribute to the formation of questions of my research by considering the extent of impact of international labor to the policies, social and economic issues of the involved countries.
Mellahi, Kamel and Al-Hinai Said. “Local workers in Gulf co-operation countries: Assets or liabilities?” Middle Eastern Studies, 2000, vol. 36(3): 177-190.
Mellahi and Said’s article discusses the reason why Qatar and other GCC countries invest heavily in foreign labor from the South Asia population. The hydrocarbon reserves in the Gulf can economically sustain the countries but there lacks a locally available skilled labor force to deal in the industry. Mellahi and Said’s note that localization in the private sector is still a matter of social, economical, and political debate in the region.
This article will assist in the discussion of my project as to whether the use of foreign labor implicates the necessity to create employment opportunities for the Qatar citizens.
Nagy, Sharon. “Making room for migrants, making sense of difference: Spatial and ideological expressions of social diversity in urban Qatar,” Urban Studies, 2006,
vol. 43 (1): 119-137.
Nagy writes about the social differentiation of Qatar’s urban residence by looking at foreign dwellers and Qatar citizens. Nagy notes that urbanization in Qatar and other GCC countries result from multifaceted influences of economic and social practices from both foreigners and the local citizens; for example, there are restaurants that cater for preferences of South Asian palates because of the increased population of Filipinos and Indians in the country.
This article will provide evidence to the findings of my research that the presence of Filipinos and Indians workers in Qatar influences the social and economic patterns of the GCC countries.
OxResearch Daily Brief Service. “Gulf States/ South Asia: Remittances defy the downturn,” Oxford Analytica, 2010, September 2. p.1
The article carries out analyses concerning various global strategies. According to this issue of the OxResearch Daily Brief Service, both the qualitative and quantitative remittances from Qatar and other GCC to South Asia has led to the development of robust geo-economic linkages between the two regions. The two regions are relatively immune to the short-term global economic fluctuations. However, the article cautions the rising upheavals of the laborers to have increased wages.
This article will be used for my study as evidence that the economic and political development in South Asian countries greatly relies on the workers at the GCC.
The Economist. “Labor pains in the Middle East: Inflation and skills shortages threaten the gulf.” The Economist, 2008, March 31. Accessed November 10, 2010, from HYPERLINK “http://www.economist.com/node/10945607” http://www.economist.com/node/10945607
The Economist relates labor and skill shortage in the gulf to inflation. A major cause of labor shortage is because the Indian and Filipino workers are deterring from work as a result of the weakening GCC currencies against the Indian rupee and Philippine peso. This affects the GCC because the Indians and Filipinos are a major source of labor to the region. India and Philippine will experience economic loss too because majority of the workers send money back home.
This article will be beneficial to my study by providing facts that the GCC labor solely depends on the Indian and Philippine workers.
United Nations. Asia-Pacific Population Journal, December 2005, vol. 20(3). UN, 2006.
This UN publication provides expert analyses and opinions about the issue of migration and labor between the South Asia region and the Gulf Corporation Council countries. All aspects of culture that result from local and foreign interaction are presented, and these include technical information, ideas, knowledge, skills, and experience. The report notes that mostly Philippine females are legally deployed annually to other countries to participate in labor, although in some cases, illegal human trafficking occurs.
This book will aid in my research by providing facts concerning the nature and pattern of labor migration from South Asia to the Arab region.
United Nations Publications. Levels and trends of international migration to selected countries in Asia. UN: United Nations Publications, 2003
This UN report provides data on the demographic features of workers in India and Philippine intending to work abroad or in the Gulf region like Qatar. For instance,ages for both men and women vary as well as from one country to another. The report also provides data by comparing trends of different countries and discussing on major changes concerning labor migration patterns.
This book will assist the researcher in providing a background on the nature of international labor from South Asia countries to the Arab region by considering the demographic features of the foreign workers in various GCC sectors.
White, Andrew. “Gulf job losses ‘to impact Philippines economy’.” Arabian Business.com. 2009, March 5. Accessed November 10, 2010 from HYPERLINK “http://www.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-job-losses-to-impact-philippines-economy–65555.html” http://www.arabianbusiness.com/gulf-job-losses-to-impact-philippines-economy–65555.html
White reports on layoffs and repatriation of Philippine workers in the GCC and evaluates an analyst’s report that the job cuts in the Gulf could seriously implicate the Philippine economy as 43% of Filipino workers are under temporary contracts in the Gulf. White reports that in the year 2008, the Philippines global remittances totaled $16.4 billion according to the ILO estimates and that this inflow amounted to 11.6% for the Philippines’ GDP.
This article is helpful for my study as it will help in the defense of the argument that the Filipino worker in the GCC impacts the Philippine economy.
