African Migrations: Issues and Perspectives

The African Coalition on Migration and Development (ACOMAD) hosted a webinar in collaboration with and City Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD).

​​On 14 July, 2021, the African Coalition on Migration and Development (ACOMAD) hosted a webinar in collaboration with and City Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD), with Dr. Willie Eselebor and Dr. Tola Winjobi as the keynote speakers, sharing the current issues about African migration. APMM’s General Manager Aaron Ceradoy was one of the speakers who shared their perspectives on migration. 

Ceradoy shed light on the topic of irregular migrants and migration in Asia. Some snippets of his presentation can be read below:

1. With more than half of the migrants around the world residing in the Asia Pacific region, it also becomes the primary source of migrants, leading to the emergence of irregular migration. In order to understand the issue behind forced migration, we have to look into the current situation of the region, the realities of the people and the narratives of the undocumented migrants. While it is hard to have an exact figure on undocumented migrants, Malaysia is a host to more than two million undocumented migrants, while South Korea has hundreds and thousands of them, even countries in the Middle East are rife with stories of runaways and stranded migrants.
2. To address the issue of undocumented migrants, we first have to acknowledge the fact that no one is willing to be an irregular migrant and being placed in vulnerable situations. There is also a need to identify the root causes and the way undocumented migrants should be viewed by society. In fact, most of them started off as documented migrants, but because of the policies adopted in countries of origin and countries of destination, it leaves them in a precarious situation. On one hand, the long-existing problems of sending countries, including poverty, wars and conflicts have driven migrants to work overseas in search for better opportunities. Instead of providing protection and social welfare to the overseas workers, the country of origin exploited the vulnerabilities through the legalisation of human trafficking, encouraging the imposition of labour export program and interrogating the repatriated or returned undocumented migrants.
    
3. On the other hand, the receiving countries were unable to contemplate concrete guidelines for the employers to follow, ensuring their living conditions have attained the minimum standard, which requires accommodations with sufficient space, proper ventilation and a certain degree of privacy. The lack of supervision of agencies in Hong Kong fostered them to set up trainee schemes and withheld migrants’ visas and passports. Along with the ‘two-week’ rule adopted by the Hong Kong government, workers must find new employment within two weeks after the termination of their contract, causing most of the migrants to run away when they suffer from ill-treatment or physical abuse. Even if you were once a documented migrant, the confiscation and expiration of documents would lead to the loss of legal residency.
    
4. Undocumented migrants are treated as criminals and are mostly subjected to violent arrests, dentation and deportation. Without their documents and identifications, they are forced to work as freeloaders and engaged in ‘3D jobs’, which refer to dirty, dangerous and demeaning occupations, without any social benefits and protection.
5. Changing our narrative towards forced migration facilities us to explore undocumented migrants from a people-centred perspective. Rather than viewing migration as a push and pull factor, it is essential to safeguard migrants’ human rights and offer them protection, services and security. Under the continuing pandemic and the expected fallout, along with the institution of new restrictions and the discussion about new border control policies, the status of undocumented migrants has considerably worsened. As they are in a disadvantaged position, it is difficult for them to reach out for assistance. Being a part of the advocacy groups, we have cooperated with various trade unions, churches and faith organisations to cater the needs of the migrants. Meanwhile, some of the members are well-equipped with legal professional experience in South Korea.
6. Although the systemic policies might not be reviewed or improved in the short-term, the crux of altering the worldview towards migration is the solidarity, unification and empowerment of migrants and advocates. The enlargement of power creates greater repercussions, prompting countries to reform their current systems to protect human rights and justice.