COVID-19, Health Borders, and the Purity of the Thai Nation Article This article examines the ad-hoc policy and regulation applied by the Thai government in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Thai government erected a ‘health border’ to control mobility of the people, as well as set up a governing body, the Center of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) under the emergency decree. By Jiraporn Laocharoenwong
Labouring Situations and Protection among Foreign Workers in Malaysia Article In normal days, low- to medium-skilled foreign workers in Southeast Asia often experience various forms of discrimination, let alone in times of COVID-19 pandemic. Such a situation has shown that Southeast Asian countries are not ready yet for cross-border people’s mobility. By Pamungkas A. Dewanto
On Migrant Workers in Singapore Opinion When news about the Coronavirus spreading rapidly in the migrant worker dormitories was reported in the media in early April 2020, it prompted a huge outcry from many Singaporeans. The mainstream media ran reports about workers living in conditions which were unsanitary and cramped. By Jolovan Wham
On Land Grabbing and Cross-border Investment: Case of Cambodian Migrant Workers in Thailand from a Gender-lens Article Land grabbing in Southeast Asia continues to be an issue of concern. The population in the region largely live in rural areas and make their living by depending on natural resources such as land and water. This article is based on a research in Cambodia and discusses key findings by using gender lens to highlight changes occurred on various levels in the community. By Premrudee Daoroung
Messages in the Social Media Bottle Article In the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines tops the list as the highest in terms of remittances from their exported labor. In 2015, the country received more than US$30 billion in remittances — which makes it the third highest in the entire world. While many of the emerging economies as well as industrialized nations rely on these remittances and foreign workers, many stories filter out from certain nations of exploitation and abuse inflicted upon these migrant workers. By Jose Santos P. Ardivilla
‘Protection’ for low-skilled migrants leads to abuse Real protection of low-skilled migrant workers can only occur if justice is placed at the center of the migration debate. How can protection for low-skilled migrants be achieved when discrimination against them lies at the core of ASEAN’s double standard approach to migration? By Rosalia Sciortino
