Camaya Wallace Bechard Research Presentation HDFS 892 June 20, 2013

1. International Migrant Work A look at the impacts of migrant work on Jamaican and Mexican Youths Camaya Wallace Bechard Research Presentation HDFS 892 June 20, 2013

2. International Migrant Work • It is the movement of people from their homelands to work in other areas around the world. The intentions may be to work and settle temporarily or permanently, authorized or unauthorized. The definition is drawn from Hune (1991). • Migration has occurred throughout history. People mobilized in search of opportunities. The growing disparities in income, wealth, human rights, human capital, security, health and education globally are major contributing factors for the movement of people. Also, through the demands for temporary and seasonal international labor, workers are recruited legally and illegally. • International migrant work supplies the unemployment needs of people around the work. However, many are faced with xenophobia, racism, discrimination, unsafe work environments, low wages, absence of social safety nets and workers rights. • According to the International Labour Organization—International Migrant Branch, of the several million people living outside their home country, about 90 percent are migrant workers and their families. The International Migrant Branch (MIGRANT) is responsible for labour issues in the ILO. The ILO is a UN specialized agency founded in 1919. • MIGRANT supports and promotes international standards. This constitutes formulating and implementing migration policy, providing advisory services and a forum for consultations, serve as a global knowledge base for international labour migration and it conducts or coordinates various projects that strengthen relationships and partnerships with NGOs and other migrant associations.

3. Theoretical Frameworks • Neoclassical Economic Theory • Dual Labor Market Theory • New Economics of Labor Migration Theory • Relative Deprivation Theory • World Systems Theory • International Migration Systems Theory

4. Opportunities Jamaica Mexico H-2A Program H-2B Program United States Farm Work Program H-2A Program H-2B Program • United States Farm Work Programme • Canadian Farm Work Programme

5. Unpredictability Seasonal and temporary workers typically have to apply every year for these non-immigrant work visas. With the constant changes in visa requirements, securing a visa for annual employment is often unpredictable.

6. Well-Being of Youths • Adjustment and Maladjustment • Housing and Living Conditions • Physical and Mental Health • Neglect and Abuse • Programs and Educational Opportunities

7. Narratives Mexican-American I had the pleasure of having a conversation with a friend and a fellow PhD student whose father was a Mexican migrant worker. We went out for sushi and ended up having a very passionate conversation about immigration and gender issues. It was unintentional how our conversation became about migrant work, even though I was interested in her perspective. There were a number of important issues that emerged from our conversation, but what truly grabbed my attention was a program she talked about that was designed for youths of migrants (those up to age 21). The program is a called College Assist Migrant Program. Jamaican As a child growing up in a poor farming community, I had schoolmates whose fathers worked as seasonal farm laborers. Every year, a select group of men would say goodbye to their families and spend up to six months working on farms overseas. While the fathers are away, mothers and members of the extended family maintain family roles and responsibilities. The anticipation and excitement for the migrant worker’s return is felt in the entire community. He brings home wages and lots of foreign goods for his family and friends. What you do not know is the challenges he face as he adjust to life on a foreign farm—typically in a small rural community.

8. The United States Department of Education (USDE) provides state and federal funding for programs such as The Migrant Education Program (MEP), which has been receiving funding for over 30 years. For example, the Texas MEP aims to provide all migrant children with academic opportunities to complete their high school diploma or GED.

9. Youth Development Professionals As YDPs working with migrant work children: • Know the needs of the youths with whom you are worker • If you are not directly working with this population but your interest lies within this area, it is essential to keep up to date with information on migration/immigration. • The needs of migrant children are similar to those of non-migrants. However, the complexities of the identities may be masked by negative overtones propagated in the media. Considerations: • Social Networks for migrants • Programs that support migrant youths • Crisis Intervention for migrant youths

10. Recommendationsfor Future Foci • Challenges for the new influx of workers • Challenges of both authorized and unauthorized workers • Immigration issues • Workers who overstay their visit • Exploitation because of unauthorized status • Access to healthcare • What happens to migrant workers when they are too sick to work? • What healthcare programs are available for children/youths? • Migrant women • The effect of social networks may be different for men and women because of costs, risk and benefits

11. References • Christiansen, S. (2013, July). From Jamaica to the vineyard. Martha’s Vineyard Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.mvmagazine.com/article.php?17057 • Cook, J. (2008, February 10). Program help children of migrant workers. McClatchy-Tribune Business News. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy1.cl.msu.edu/docview/465932943/fulltext/13EADF7D920CED55AF/4?accountid=12598 • Curran, S. R., & Rivero-Fuentes, E. (2003). Engendering migrant networks: the case of Mexican migration. Demography, 40(2), 289-307. • Hune, S. (1991). Migrant women in the context of the international convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. International Migration Review, 25(4), 800-817. • Jennissen, R. (2007). Causality chains in the international migration systems approach. Population Research and Policy Review, 26(4), 411-436. • Martin, S. L., Gordon, T. E., Kupersmidt, J. B. (1995). Survey of exposure to violence among the children of migrant and seasonal farm workers. Public Health Reports, 110(3), 268-276. • Mines, R., Nichols, S., & Runsten, D. (2010). California’s indigenous farmworkers. Retrieved June 12, 2012 from National Center for Farmworker Health, Quarterly Health Topics, First Quarter 2011, Indigenous Farmworkers http://www.ncfh.org/pdfs/2k9/8913.pdf

12. References Con’t & Links • Parra-Cardona, J. R., Bulock, L. A., Imig, D. R., Villarruel, F. A., & Gold, S. J. (2006). Trabajando duro todos los dias: learning from the life experiences of Mexican-origin migrant families. Family Relations, 55(3), 361-375. • Portes, A., & Rivas, A. (2011). The adaptation of migrant children. The Future of Children, 21(1), 219-246. • Stark, O., & Bloom, D. E. (1985). The new economics of labor migration. American Economic Review, 75(2), 173-178 • Stark, O., & Taylor, J. E. (1989). Relative deprivation and international migration. Demography, 26(1), 1-14. • Suarez-Orozco, C., Yoshikawa, H., Teranishi, R.T, & Suarez-Orozco, M.M. (2011). Growing up in the shadows: the developmental implications of unauthorized status. Harvard Educational Review, 81(3), 438-472 • Tan, G. G., Ray, M. P., & Cate, R. (1991). Migrant farm child abuse and neglect within an ecosystem framework. Family Relations, 40(1), 84-90 • http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---migrant/documents/publication/wcms_178672.pdf • http://www.ilo.org/migrant/lang--en/index.html • http://www.globalchoices.org/ • http://www.employmentusaonline.com/index-3.html • http://www.employmentusaonline.com/index-5.html • http://www2.ed.gov/programs/camp/eligibility.html • http://www.netxv.net/Page/97