Migrant Workers in the Global Economy

The evaluation seminar of IFWEA's Migrant Workers in the Global Economy International Study Circle (ISC) took place in Lisbon, Portugal. The main aim of the evaluation was to assess the implementation and outcomes of the ISC. The ISC was run on a fortnightly basis for a period of four months. It was divided into two language groups - English and Portuguese - with the intention of exchanging information both within and between the two groups. Participating countries included Portugal, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Sao Tomé e Principe, Ireland, England and Scotland, Trinidad and Pakistan. In this article, Alana Dave, IFWEA's Projects Officer, provides a synthesis of the discussions which took place at the seminar.

The ISC was aimed at three core groups:

	Migrant workers in a host country
	Returnee workers in their home country
	Representatives of organisations involved with migrant workers. For example, trade unions, migrant workers' associations etc.

Approximately 95 participants were involved in the ISC, with 33 participants being women. The majority of course participants were trade union representatives including shop stewards and trade union leaders and officers. In Pakistan, the make-up of the group consisted entirely of migrant workers from informal sector associations. Most groups had some participation from people who had experienced migration, either as migrant workers/asylum seekers themselves or as second-generation immigrants.

Whilst most countries did not have difficulty reaching the target audience, participants shared only a very general set of experiences and interests. Previous evaluations of ISCs have revealed that the target group needed to be more narrowly defined. However, in the case of this particular ISC, it was felt that there needed to be a more strategic and narrowly defined selection of countries, with the aim of connecting countries linked by migration patterns. For example, connecting migrant supplying countries with those countries which receive migrants. This connection would have provided the ISC with more focus and opportunity for direct links between participants.

"It had been hoped that US and Canadian contacts could be established so that the basis for future long-term work could be laid. The failure to achieve this limited our work to the Trinidadian end of the long migration trail". (Dave Smith, Facilitator, Trinidad and Tobago)

Learning Outcomes

A key learning outcome of the ISC was a greater awareness of the issues, problems and experiences faced by migrant workers locally and internationally. For most participants, this was the first time that they had attended an education programme on migrant workers.

"Participants spoke about very important issues that we had never spoken about before. They were always very motivated and willing to tell their own life stories". (Liliana Santos, Facilitator, Portugal).

Although there is a growing awareness of the need to reach and organise migrant workers in trade unions, few have developed education programmes which allow their members to discuss and debate policies and strategies. The ISC made an important contribution to developing trade union capacity to respond to migration. In the Portuguese-speaking African countries, the ISC was treated as an opportunity to train trainers.

"The IFWEA ISC activity helped to enrich the union's approach and response". (Carlos Pina, Facilitator, Cabo Verde).

"There are a number of initiatives in Ireland which will benefit from the fact that the ISC took place. It has resourced people to feed into these developments; for example, the development of legislation on immigration and a trade union action plan for anti-racism." (David Joyce, Facilitator, Ireland).

Facilitators and study circle participants felt that an important outcome of the ISC was the development of a global perspective on migration issues:

"Hearing from around the world can give us a better understanding of the local scene". (Local group in Ireland).

"Understanding global issues helps to put into perspective our own situation and the links and causes of how a situation in another part of the world affects us all. It also helps to gain a better understanding of these issues and the effects on the lives of real people". (Local group from England and Scotland).

"For the first time, we became aware of people's problems in other countries". (Facilitator, São Tomé e Principe).

Some countries reported that individual participants perceived themselves to be more confident and critical as a result of participating in the ISC:

"I have developed confidence to raise questions and look at a whole range of issues from another point of view". (Study circle participant, England and Scotland).

Like previous ISCs, this ISC has confirmed that there is a concrete need and interest in workers' education on issues and topics linked to globalisation. However, in order for the education to be meaningful, ISC methodology has to be linked very closely to local circumstances and experiences. All the facilitators adapted the IFWEA education materials and introduced local input; for example, making use of local case-studies, inviting local speakers, using local newspaper reports etc.

International communication and use of the Internet

International communication is integral to the effective and successful functioning of an ISC programme. In this ISC, local groups experienced problems including:

	The ISC was not run simultaneously in the participating countries, with many local groups establishing their own pace and time frame. This was due to several specifically local/national factors including disruption caused by foot and mouth disease, national elections, religious holidays etc.
	Group reports were not submitted regularly due to the time constraints of the facilitators (particularly where translation was required), computer problems in some countries etc.
	Reports were often not written with an educational purpose in mind.
	Language differences between the Portuguese and English-speaking groups restricted direct communication between participants.

These problems resulted in there being only sporadic interaction and exchange between the groups. Participants became disappointed and frustrated with the lack of international contact with other groups. Several facilitators commented that when reports were received, they generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm.

"When we were able to get reports, they were read with great enthusiasm. The reports from other countries often provided the highlight of any session and remained a talking point after the sessions had finished." (Dave Smith, Facilitator, Trinidad and Tobago).

This ISC experienced more technical problems than previous programmes. In particular, facilitators from the developing countries were often delayed by computer breakdowns, problems with email etc. In some countries like São Tomé e Principe, it is still very expensive to make use of the Internet.

These problems also impacted on the extent to which facilitators could integrate the use of the Internet into the ISC programme itself. In those countries where computer access was possible, ISC participants were introduced to the Internet and made use of the project web site.

Given the absence of effective international exchanges and links through the ISC, it is unlikely that any long-term, independent initiatives between organisations participating in the programme will be established on the issue of migrant workers. However, the education materials will be used in a two-year European based training programme for adult educators who are working with asylum seekers, refugees and new immigrants. This programme, initiated by the WEA in England and Scotland, includes Euro-WEA partners from Germany, France, Portugal, Hungary and Bulgaria.

Organisational Outcomes

The ISC stimulated new organisational activity at a local level, including:

	A support group for families of refugees and asylum seekers has been set up and will be supported by the local ISC group in Sheffield, England.
	In Portugal, the local ISC group will keep contact concerning issues faced by second-generation immigrants.
	In Cabo Verde, the ISC will be run in other parts of the country and individual participants will continue their research.
	In Ireland, the local ISC group will act as a network around issues of migration and keep contact by email. The participants will also produce a simple publication and articles to give other union members a sense of the issues.
	In Trinidad and Tobago, a resolution on migrant workers was drawn up by the local group for individual participants to take back into their unions for discussion.

Recommendations for future IFWEA/Euro-WEA activity on migrant workers

	Running a regional ISC on migrant workers in the Caribbean.
	Running education programmes with existing groups of refugees and asylum seekers.
	Developing education programmes for women migrant workers.
	Developing education programmes for second and third generation immigrants.
	Developing education programmes for returning migrants.
	Continuing to develop the project web site on migrant workers
	Running the Migrant Workers in the Global Economy ISC with sending and receiving countries.
	Production of an education pack on migrant workers based on the ISC education materials.
	Developing a training programme for facilitators to implement education programmes and ISC activity on migrant workers.

Educational Resources

The project web site is a useful resource for organisations interested in education on migrant workers. It includes all the education materials and discussions between the local groups. The web also has a useful library on issues linked to migration. A decision was taken at the evaluation to regularly update the web site with relevant material on migration. An education pack on migrant workers in the global economy will be produced, using the education materials of the ISC.

Contact Alana Dave at: IFWEA Projects Office, GMB College, College Rd, Manchester M16 8BP, Britain; +44-161-8605952 (phone); +44-161-8811853 (fax); alana.dave@mcr1.poptel.org.uk 

email to IFWEA Journal: alana.dave@mcr1.poptel.org.uk