New York, NY, USA | Cape Town, South Africa | Quezon City, Philippines – Three think-tanks that are part of the network of Scalabrini Migration Study Centers (SMSC) and the Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), today released a series of reports commissioned by the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). The reports are part of the “The Future of Work, Labour After Laudato Sì” initiative, a global effort to respond to Pope Francis’ second encyclical.

The introductory paper, authored by Donald Kerwin, Executive Director of the Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) examines the moral and ethical principles that should govern the future of work and international migration. Titled “International Migration and Work: Charting an Ethical Approach to the Future,” the paper draws from academic literature, case studies, international law, the recently adopted global compacts on migrants and refugees, and Catholic social thought.  

The Scalabrini Migration Center in the Philippines (SMC) reports on two ambitious studies. This first, “Out at Sea, Out of Sight: Southeast Asian Fishermen on Taiwanese Fishing Vessels,” is based on a series of interviews with migrant fishermen.  In the report, SMC identified significant gaps in protection and elements of human trafficking.  SMC’s second report, entitled “Sowing Hope: Agriculture as an Alternative to Migration for Young Filipinos?” explores programs that seek to make agriculture a viable career for young adults in the Philippines, who might otherwise emigrate. The report found that Filipinos would be more likely to make agriculture their livelihood, if they viewed it as profitable, well-supported, modern and a socially valuable career. “Young people are introducing innovations in agriculture in the Philippines,” said Maruja M.B. Asis, Executive Director of SMC. “They are seeds of hope for our future.”

The Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA) released an exhaustive report about migrants and refugees in Cape Town, South Africa.  The report, “Labour-related Experiences of Migrants and Refugees in South Africa,” points out that most migrants and refugees experience poverty, exploitation and xenophobic victimization.

These reports were first presented at the Meeting of ICMC Asia-Oceania Working Group and High-Level Regional Conference on the “Future of Work,” in Bangkok, Thailand in December 2019.  As part of efforts to generate discussions and map out action plans toward just policies and good practices, the three centers today published these reports.

“ICMC has been a leader in welcoming, protecting and integrating migrants,” said Mr. Kerwin. “Their vision informed these reports and their support made this important work possible.”

The CMS report is now available at https://cmsny.org/publications/kerwin-future-of-work/

The SMC reports are now available at http://smc.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/OUT-AT-SEA-OUT-OF-SIGHT.pdf and  http://smc.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SOWING-HOPE.pdf

The SIHMA report is available at http://sihma.org.za/reports/labour-related-experiences-of-migrants-and-refugees-in-south-africa