The “unseen” in migration and remittances: the case of South Asian migrant workers in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
The “unseen” in migration and remittances: the case of South Asian migrant workers in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Author(s): Prakash Arunasalam, Thirunaukarasu Subramaniam
Subject(s): Economy, Labor relations, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: migration and remittances; South Asian migrant workers; Cameron Highlands; Malaysia; remittances; migrant workers;
Summary/Abstract: In migration research involving migrant workers, the often “seen” aspect is the determinants of migration, migration processes and patterns, income earned and the remittances made. However, there is another dimension of migration and remittances that often receive less or no attention which is the “unseen” aspect. The “unseen” aspect is related more to the sacrifices made by migrant workers which underlies the determinants of migration, migration processes and pattern, income earned and remittances made. The sacrifices made by the migrant workers often receive less attention in previous studies despite the sacrifices made by them are instrumental to the social and economic well-being of the migrant workers and their families. They are willing to make various sacrifices because their goal is to maximize the remittances made to their home countries. The income earned by migrant workers has two main uses namely for expenditure and savings purposes. The savings made while working abroad are the money which is sent by South Asian migrant workers to their home countries as remittances. This implies that the more the sacrifices are made, the higher will be the amount saved, therefore the higher will be the remittances.

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