Dissemination of right information at the right time plays a pertinent role in enabling safe, orderly and regular migration. This was looked into by an international panel of scholar and practitioners in a recent webinar organized jointly by the Migrant Forum in Asia [MFA], the Cross–Regional Center for Refugees and Migrants [CCRM], the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism [ GRFDT] and The Civil Society Action Committee. The webinar was an analysis of the third objective of the Global Compact for Migration : Provide accurate and timely information at all stages of migration.
William Gois, Regional Coordinator, Migrant Forum in Asia, who moderated the webinar, commenced the discussion by calling to attention the contradictory realities of information overload existing parallel to lack of translation of information into knowledge. He pointed out various nuances in poor information circulation, from lack of coordination among stakeholders providing information to withholding and ill timing of relevant information, and insisted that the aim of this discussion is to analyze the feedback from migrants on the information dissemination system that is in place to aid them.
Addressing the Gaps
Misinformation plagues each stage of the migration process which sets the need for proper orientation programs to be held at pre-employment or pre-decision level, prior to departure and post the arrival of migrants. Mohamed El Zarkani, Chief of Mission, IOM Bahrain, shed light on the Comprehensive Information and Orientation Programme [CIOP] adopted as a regional initiative following Abu Dhabi Dialogue covering Asia and the Pacific. It is rooted in the idea that information should be tailored, accurate and harmonized throughout the experience of migrant workers. Training modules and guides have been developed to achieve this. The impact of this approach is being evaluated to ensure better preparedness and protection of migrants and in helping them to navigate new workplace in new country.
The need to address the language barrier in efficient information exchange was highlighted by AtyabAlshati, Deputy Secretary General, Kuwait Society for Human Rights [KSHR]. KSHR has launched an e-platform – Together – which has made available labour laws and related information in Kuwait in 6 different languages. In collaboration with the Embassy of Netherlands in Kuwait, a hotline service was launched in July 2017 to provide legal consultation while information was also published in 7 languages in the form of booklets, and posters circulated through social media. The project is in its third phase of implementation and so far, around 4000 calls were attended through the hotline, 5000 legal consultations were provided and 700 lawsuits were filed, which prove the impact of the project.
Information has always been there, but there is not enough being done to ensure that it reaches the deprived. Atty. Francis Ron C Guzman, Director, Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch, POEA, acknowledged that there is room for improvement as he described the model adopted by the Filipino government to ensure migrants are well informed. The government is allowed to suspend sending migrants to destination countries that mistreat migrants and the Philippines is a part of the Comprehensive Information and Orientation Programme. Efforts are being made to codify employment and post-employment laws into a compact that is comprehensible and takes into recognition the distinction between land-based and sea-based migrants. In addition, the Philippines is at the forefront in conducting pre-employment, pre-departure and post arrival seminars to aid the migrant workers and are working towards reintegration of returning migrants.
Even though information is out there and we are able to provide information…as long as there are migrants encountering problems at destination countries, we should be doing more: Francis Guzman
Concerns that Call for Immediate Attention
Interventions made by participants shifted the discourse to the hurdles in the information channel and the role of media in addressing it. Media reaches far in carrying information across migrants and shares stories that can be revisited by policy makers. With the content of message changing frequently, the cost of incorrect information can be high and the dissemination of information at ground level must be strengthened.
Suha Labadi, Project Coordinator, ILO, Jordan, also touched upon this when she detailed how recruiters often withhold information regarding pay and work hours from migrants before their arrival, resulting in ill informed choices and exploitation of migrants. To address this, ILO is implementing Integrated Program on Fair Recruitment [FAIR] across specific migration corridors in North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Pre-departure awareness programs are also held in origin countries which not only imparts knowledge on laws of the host country, but also on working and living conditions and essential information like how to calculate pay and number of hours of work, getting access to social security etc.
The underbelly of failed migration was brought to the spotlight by Mehru Cyrus Vesuvala, grassroot community volunteer. There is a huge gap between the availability of information and the processing of information by workers. Information is often misleading, overwhelming and fails to keep in touch with reality. Financial literacy is not incorporated in migrants and pre-departure talks often adopt a “one-size-fits-all approach, which can be very generic”, overlooking the differences between countries. She also pointed out the lack of sufficient programs addressing mental health issues faced by workers, which has become very necessary in the wake of COVID-19.
Role of Civil Societies
Civil Society Organizations play an important role in harmonizing information flow, ensuring that the right information reaches everyone, who is in need of it and gets translated to empowered actions. Mohamed El Zarkani insisted on the need for involving CSOs in pre-departure and post-arrival orientation programs while Atyab Alshati concluded that information outreach is also the key in fighting xenophobia and hate speech thereby ensuring respect and dignity for migrants. Suha Labadi acknowledged the uneven power dynamics playing against workers due to the restrictions imposed on the freedom of association in Jordan. The other panelists and participants also acknowledged the contribution of CSOs in aiding migrant workers and mobilizing the response to COVID-19 pandemic.
Civil Society must be taken seriously while engaging in policy matters or while taking the feedback…and confidence building measures must be in place to enable migrants to work openly with CSOs without fear of deportation: Mehru Vesuvala
The webinar served as a reality check on how the flow of information shapes the narratives around migration. Access to accurate and timely information results in premeditated decisions by migrants and reduces the possibility of exploitation. As the panelists concluded, despite the measures undertaken, there is still a lot more to be done in empowering migrants through the dissemination of the right knowledge at the right time.
Manjima A, Student, Miranda House, University of Delhi @manjima_a