Becoming a Migrant Worker in Nepal: The Governmentality and Marketization of Transnational Labor

High-profile events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have highlighted the importance of low-wage employment of migrant workers. Hannah Uprety's research in Nepal reveals a migration regime that transforms local men and women into migrant workers before they leave the country, uncovering the cultural, economic, and political infrastructures that make these types of migration possible.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: Transcript Verlag

High-profile events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have made one thing abundantly clear: Much of today's economic growth would be unthinkable without the low-wage employment of migrant workers. However, which cultural, economic, and political infrastructures in the source countries make these types of migration possible in the first place? Based on multi-sensory ethnographic research in Nepal, Hannah Uprety retraces the practices of recruitment and instruction that, step by step, transform Nepali labor into an internationally marketable commodity. In doing so, she uncovers a migration regime that effectively turns local men and women into migrant workers before they even leave the country.

The recruitment and instruction practices that transform Nepali labor into an internationally marketable commodity are the focus of Hannah Uprety's multi-sensory ethnographic research in Nepal. She reveals a migration system that effectively turns local men and women into migrant workers before they even leave the country by tracing these practices.

The cultural, economic, and political infrastructures in the source countries play a crucial role in making these types of migration possible. The source countries may have a labor market that is in need of migrant workers, or they may have policies that encourage migration. Additionally, the source countries may have infrastructure such as transportation and communication networks that make it easier for migrant workers to travel and communicate with their families.

The recruitment and instruction practices that transform Nepali labor into an internationally marketable commodity also involve the use of intermediaries such as recruitment agencies and labor contractors. These intermediaries may charge fees to the workers and may not always prioritize their safety and well-being. Additionally, the workers may be subjected to harsh working conditions and may not receive the wages that they are promised.

The impact of migration on the source countries and the destination countries is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, migration can provide a source of income and economic growth for the destination countries. It can also help to address labor shortages in certain industries and sectors. On the other hand, migration can also lead to social and economic challenges in the source countries, such as increased poverty and inequality.

In conclusion, the recruitment and instruction practices that transform Nepali labor into an internationally marketable commodity are a result of a complex interplay of cultural, economic, and political infrastructures in the source countries. These practices have significant implications for the workers themselves, as well as for the source and destination countries. It is essential to address these issues and to promote fair and ethical labor practices in order to ensure that the benefits of migration are shared equitably.

Dimension: 24 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783837662122