Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on processes of inclusion and exclusion of labor migrants and the role of language and language policies regulating labor control. It will be a comparative analysis of empirical findings from an EU region with similar literature of Eastern and Southeast Asia.

Paper long abstract:

Research has shown that language skills of labor migrants play an important role in mediating migration pathways, as well as influencing their success in the labor market in the receiving country. Likewise, proficiency in the majority language is crucial and has important effects on earnings, job placement and promotion. However, very few studies have looked into the relationship between labor migration control and language policies. The background of our presentation is an empirical study undertaken in the EU region when EU- expanded and opened its borders to transnational labor migrants from Central and Eastern European countries in 2004. Our study shows how language policies were implemented in various northern European countries around the same time as the expansion, and several countries used language policy as a means of shifting away from multicultural policies and towards re-bordering. In this presentation a comparative analysis will be undertaken of our empirical findings from the EU region with similar studies presented in literature of Eastern and Southeast Asia, especially China and surrounding countries. We will be doing so by focusing on aspects related to: "linguistic nationalism" and the interaction of institutional actors in supporting negotiations regarding linguistic skill that facilitate migrants' capacity to traverse boundaries and integrate into foreign job markets.

Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the Chinese labour market in the Chinese immigrant economy in Vienna in the context of the Austrian migration regime as well as the socio-economic transformations of PR China since the 1980s.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines the Chinese labour market in the Chinese immigrant economy in Vienna in the context of the Austrian migration regime as well as the socio-economic transformations of PR China since the 1980s. While Chinese immigrant economy has been providing Chinese workers with earning opportunities unavailable for them in the mainstream economy, it has deprived them of the rights of social welfare protection, impeding their social and economic integration in the mainstream society to a certain extent.

In the wake of globalization of China's economy and Chinese migration, Chinese transnational activities have given thrust to new business and employment opportunities in Vienna such as those in tourism and cultural industries in the last decade. These new economic activities have not only reinvigorated the Chinese immigrant economy, but also unlocked the door of an alternative path of prosperity and social mobility, in particular for a group of well-educated and well-connected Chinese. However, while some can enjoy the economic advantages induced by transnationalism, some other are excluded and remain as marginalized workers in the Chinese immigrant economy. This contributes to the emergence of internal stratification and widening of socio-economic distance among members of the Chinese working force in Vienna.

Paper short abstract:

Migration accompanies the movement of capital, revealing the disorders and inequalities of the world. By analysing the Euro-Atlantic vs. Eurasian macro-spaces, the paper pays attention to the disruption of migration trends, underlining the attraction and rejection patterns, in relation with movement of people and labour, Romania being case study.

Paper long abstract:

By debating the Euro-Atlantic vs. Eurasian macro-spaces, the paper pays attention to the disruption of migration trends, analysing the attraction and rejection factors of the two macro-spaces in relation with movement of people (dialog or confrontation?).

The paper compares two macro-spaces, defined by demography, economy, science, trade, finance and competitiveness. EU should respond to three imperatives: necessity, effectiveness and legitimacy. Legitimacy is lost, efficacy very low, the Euro-Atlantic macro-space is eroded. The future belongs to regions with resources (oil, gas, minerals and workers): the Eurasian space is carrying the torch in the future perspective. An irreversible political and economic shift in global power from West to East was noted: the world economic centre was moved from Atlantic to Pacific.

The attraction of Eurasia, with an increasing role in changing of migration dynamics and structure, is the second topic. The capital goes to Asia, bringing goods, and the workers follow. Eurasia attracts with the growing economy, and the population cannot drive against economic trends. In the same time, Eurasia has an increased interest in Europe.

The third part discuss the Romania's position into wider Black Sea Area, between the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian macro-spaces, belonging to and connecting the both, playground for confrontation of two contrary tendencies: attraction of the European values and the increasing of Asia's economy. Changing of world power centres influences the labour migration patterns in the Black Sea Area. Two case studies are presented in a mirror: migration of Romanians to Spain and the attractiveness of Far East.

Paper short abstract:

This paper analyses both the recent entrepreneurial diversification of Wenzhouese in Prato (Italy) and the crisis of upward social mobility among Chinese migrants from Fujian and Dongbei, as well as the decision taken by a growing number of Chinese of leaving the city as a results of various factors

Paper long abstract:

Wenzhouese migrants began arriving in Prato - a mid-sized city with the highest percentage of Chinese residents of any Italian province - in the early 1990s as workers in the textile industrial district. Over the last decade, they have been able to set up their own businesses, moving from the role of subcontractors for Italian firms to that of final firms in the pronto moda (ready-to-wear fast fashion). More recently, they have embarked in different activities, ranging from the ethnic service sector, the opening of wholesale and retail businesses, the gainful sector of importing and marketing goods from China, to the so-called "mimetic businesses", and new forms of entrepreneurship, embedded in the Italian society. A new, well-off 'middle class' is therefore emerging. However, due to (at least) four factors intertwined with each other at various levels - 1. the global economic crisis which has harmed the Chinese garment industry as well as Prato textile district, 2. the crisis of upward social mobility experienced by those migrants without strong chain migration and guanxi (i.e. Chinese from Fujian and Dongbei), 3. the implementation of financial controls imposed by Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, 4. an unfriendly social climate towards Chinese migrants which led, in 2009, to the victory of a right-wing coalition after 63 years of left-wing local government - a growing number of Chinese entrepreneurs are deciding to come back to their motherland or move elsewhere.

This paper also intends to scrutinize the consequences of these dynamics on Prato economy and Italian economy overall.

Paper short abstract:

The present paper deals with the internal migration of labor and reflects on their wage, working and living conditions and explains how basic rights of laborers are violated.

Paper long abstract:

The present paper is based on the author's research on Oriya migrant laborers in Surat in the Gujarat state of India, during the last two decades .The textile industries of Surat accommodate around ten lakh migrant laborers from Orissa and house them spatially distributed in the entire city. Majority of them work on casual basis and are paid on daily attendance. The laborers work for twelve hours per shift in a day against the official eight hours with an unpaid holiday on Friday. Medical help is a luxury in most of the industries. The temporary and ad-hoc nature of employment, low wages and poor housing conditions lead to serious health hazards. Hardly, any laborer is aware of any trade union in their industries and let alone in the textile city. Although, the different trade unions have their own units but none is politically active and lack wisdom to safe guard the interests of the laboring class. Hence one can easily notice that there are frequent changes of employment without any adequate changes in the way of life. The laborers rationalize the situation and accept the process of migration as it provides employment opportunities and better wages compared to what they are used to receive at their village surroundings. The above facts vividly narrate how the migrant laborers are deprived of their basic rights in a civilized society.