IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ind/cdswpp/326.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Gulf migration study: Employment, wages and working conditions of Kerala emigrants in the United Arab Emirates

Author

Listed:
  • K.C. Zachariah

    (Centre for Development Studies)

  • B.A. Prakash

    (Centre for Development Studies)

  • S. Irudaya Rajan

    (Centre for Development Studies)

Abstract

This is the fourth in a series of Working Papers published by the CDS on Kerala migration. Unlike the other three, this one is financed by the Kerala Government and the data were collected in UAE. The objectives of this Working Paper are to: document changes in the labour demand for different categories of emigrant workers, enumerate the emigration policies, examine employment and working conditions, wage levels and related problems of the Kerala emigrants, understand the education and training requirements of future emigrants to UAE. This paper is noteworthy in a number of ways for its contributions to our understanding of Kerala migration to the Gulf countries. It gives the most authentic estimate of the annual remittances to Kerala from the Gulf countries and from other parts of the world. The average annual estimate of the total remittances from all countries of the world is Rs 13,815 crores for the period 1998-2000. Remittances from the Gulf countries alone would be about Rs 12,640 crores. The paper concludes that changes in the immigration policy of the UAE government, completion of major infrastructure projects and economic recession in the region have reduced substantially the demand for unskilled and semi-skilled labourers in the UAE. The new policies are related to demographic balancing, emiratization, banning visa for unskilled Asian workers, large-scale mechanisation to make unskilled labour very expensive, etc. The UAE government has also stopped accepting applications for visas for unskilled workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh with effect from 18th July 1999. Future demand will be for categories of skilled workers, technicians, computer workers, heavy equipment operators, electrical workers and professional categories such as doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers and accountants. The future emigrants from Kerala should be equipped to meet the changing demand for migrant labour in UAE.

Suggested Citation

  • K.C. Zachariah & B.A. Prakash & S. Irudaya Rajan, 2002. "Gulf migration study: Employment, wages and working conditions of Kerala emigrants in the United Arab Emirates," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 326, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    • Handle: RePEc:ind:cdswpp:326
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.cds.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/wp326.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. K.C. Zachariah & P.R. Gopinathan Nair & S. Irudaya Rajan, 2001. "Return emigrants in Kerala: Rehabilitation problems and development potential," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 319, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    2. Faini,Riccardo C. & de Melo,Jaime & Zimmermann,Klaus (ed.), 1999. "Migration," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521662338, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. S.Irudaya Rajan & Bernard D Sami & S.Samuel Asir Raj, 2017. "Tamil Nadu Migration Survey 2015," Working Papers id:12075, eSocialSciences.
    2. Kar, Saibal, 2008. "Migrant remittances in the state of Kerala, India," MPRA Paper 103805, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. K.C. Zachariah & S. Irudaya Rajan, 2007. "Migration remittances and employment short-term trends and longterm implications," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 395, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    4. Justin Sunny & Jajati K. Parida & Mohammed Azurudeen, 2020. "Remittances, Investment and New Emigration Trends in Kerala," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 25(1), pages 5-29, June.
    5. K. P. Kannan & K. S. Hari, 2010. "Kerela's Gulf Connection: Emigration, Remittances and their Macroeconomic Impact 1972-2000," Working Papers id:3132, eSocialSciences.
    6. IRIS Knowledge Foundation IKF, 2014. "Jobs and Livelihoods Mapping the Landscape," Working Papers id:5918, eSocialSciences.
    7. Amanda Wise, 2013. "Pyramid subcontracting and moral detachment: Down-sourcing risk and responsibility in the management of transnational labour in Asia," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 24(3), pages 433-455, September.
    8. Parida, Jajati Keshari & Mohanty, Sanjay K., 2013. "Role of Remittances on Households’ Expenditure Pattern in India," MPRA Paper 62395, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Kumar, Rakesh Ranjan & Rajagopalan, Anjana & Singh, Sudershan, 2018. "Dimensions of Economic Mobility in Kerala’s Migrant Households," MPRA Paper 88606, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Jajati K. Parida & Merry Elizabeth John & Justin Sunny, 2020. "Construction labour migrants and wage inequality in Kerala," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 22(2), pages 414-442, December.
    11. K.C. Zachariah & S.Irudaya Rajan, 2008. "Costs of basic services in Kerala, 2007: Education, health, childbirth and finance (Loans)," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 406, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    12. Bhupesh Gopal Chintamani & Lalitagauri Kulkarni, 2023. "Determinants and Effects of International Remittances: Evidence from Ratnagiri District of Rural Maharashtra," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 66(2), pages 617-637, June.
    13. N. Vijayamohanan Pillai, 2004. "CES function, generalised mean and human poverty index: Exploring some links," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 360, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    14. Zachariah KC, 2009. "Costs of Basic Services in Kerala, 2007 Education, Health, Childbirth and Finance (Loans)," Working Papers id:1837, eSocialSciences.
    15. KC.Zachariah & S.Irudaya Rajan, 2007. "Economic and social dynamics of migration in Kerala, 1999-2004: Analysis of panel data," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 384, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    16. Sasidharan, Anand, 2008. "Is Grass Greener on the Other Side?: A Glimpse of the Worker Camps in UAE," MPRA Paper 19378, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Zachariah KC, 2008. "Migration, Remittances and Short-term Trends and Long-term Implications," Working Papers id:1328, eSocialSciences.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. S. Irudaya Rajan & B.A. Prakash & K. C. Zachariah, 2010. "Gulf Migration Study: Employment, Wages and Working Conditions of Kerala Emigrants in the United Arab Emirates," Working Papers id:3185, eSocialSciences.
    2. K. Parvinen & U. Dieckmann & M. Gyllenberg & J.A.J. Metz, 2000. "Evolution of Dispersal in Metapopulations with Local Density Dependence and Demographic Stochasticity," Working Papers ir00035, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
    3. Baraulina, Tatjana & Bommes, Michael & El-Cherkeh, Tanja & Daume, Heike & Vadean, Florin P., 2007. "Ägyptische, afghanische und serbische Diasporagemeinden in Deutschland und ihre Beiträge zur Entwicklung ihrer Herkunftsländer," HWWI Research Papers 3-5, Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI).
    4. Massimo Bordignon & Paolo Manasse & Guido Tabellini, 2001. "Optimal Regional Redistribution under Asymmetric Information," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(3), pages 709-723, June.
    5. Epstein, Gil S. & Hillman, Arye L., 2000. "Social Harmony at the Boundaries of the Welfare State: Immigrants and Social Transfers," IZA Discussion Papers 168, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Assaf Razin & Efraim Sadka & Benjarong Suwankiri, 2009. "Migration and the welfare state: Dynamic Political-Economy Theory," NBER Working Papers 14784, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Kjetil Storesletten & Chris Telmer & Amir Yaron, 2007. "Asset Pricing with Idiosyncratic Risk and Overlapping Generations," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 10(4), pages 519-548, October.
    8. Megan Claridge & Sarah Box, 2000. "Economic Integration, Sovereignty and Identity: New Zealand in the Global Economy," Treasury Working Paper Series 00/22, New Zealand Treasury.
    9. de Brauw, Alan & Taylor, J. Edward & Rozelle, Scott, 1999. "The Impact Of Migration And Remittances On Rural Incomes In China," 1999 Annual meeting, August 8-11, Nashville, TN 21656, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    10. Borjas, George J., 2003. "Welfare reform, labor supply, and health insurance in the immigrant population," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(6), pages 933-958, November.
    11. Dhori Kule & Ahmet Mançellari & Harry Papapanagos & Stefan Qirici & Peter Sanfey, 2000. "The Causes and Consequences of Albanian Emigration during Transition: Evidence from Micro Data," Studies in Economics 0004, School of Economics, University of Kent.
    12. de Brauw, Alan, 2001. "Migration And Investment In Rural China," 2001 Annual meeting, August 5-8, Chicago, IL 20648, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    13. Ilahi, Nadeem & Jafarey, Saqib, 1999. "Guestworker migration, remittances and the extended family: evidence from Pakistan," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 485-512, April.
    14. Frank T Denton & Christine H Feaver & Byron G Spencer, 2005. "Population Aging in Canada: Software for Exploring the Implications for the Labour Force and the Productive Capacity of the Economy," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 146, McMaster University.
    15. S. Irudaya Rajan, 2000. "Home away from home: A survey of oldage homes and inmates in Kerala," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 306, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    16. K. P. Kannan & K. S. Hari, 2020. "Revisiting Kerala’s Gulf Connection: Half a Century of Emigration, Remittances and Their Macroeconomic Impact, 1972–2020," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(4), pages 941-967, December.
    17. Gil S. Epstein & Odelia Heizler (Cohen), 2013. "Minimum wages and the creation of illegal migration," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 33(1), pages 434-441.
    18. Michael, Michael S. & Hatzipanayotou, Panos, 2001. "Welfare effects of migration in societies with indirect taxes, income transfers and public good provision," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(1), pages 1-24, February.
    19. Christina Boswell & Thomas Straubhaar, 2004. "The illegal employment of Foreign workers: an overview," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 39(1), pages 4-7, January.
    20. Frank T. Denton & Christine H. Feaver & Byron G. Spencer, 2002. "Alternative Pasts, Possible Futures: A "What If" Study of the Effects of Fertility on the Canadian Population and Labour Force," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 28(3), pages 443-459, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Kerala; remittances; emigration; United Arab Emirates;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ind:cdswpp:326. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Shamprasad M. Pujar (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cdsacin.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.