Thai labor migration to Japan and its impact : a case study of Thai immigrants from a Northern village

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to capture the labor migration systems between Thailand and Japan, and find out the impact of migration with adapting migration systems theory which takes four contexts—social, political, economical and demographic—in both a sending and a receiving countries. Especially political context in Japan is important to understand the current labor migration systems between Thailand and Japan because under the current Japanese immigration policy, unskilled labor migrants are unwelcome. Reasons of migration provide fundamental elements which bring well-organized networks. Push factors are related to social and economical situation in Thailand, on the other hand, pull factors are based on economical and geographical situations in Japan. All these factors explain that there is demand for unskilled labor in Japan and supply for unskilled labor in Thailand. Considering both factors together with background of migration, it is found out that there is a gap between Japanese political situation and the reality. This gap forms and strengthens the labor migration system. In this migration system, migrants have to pay expensive brokerage to their recruiters and brokers. However, all migrants have potential to be future brokers and recruiters. They can raise a lot of money if they are successful in Japan and later, they can make money as recruiters and brokers. Migration to Japan is, thus, high risk and high return, however, there is no guarantee whether they can be successful or not in Japan. It has to be noted that there are many Thais who are cheated and become victim of human trafficking. In this condition, migration network has been created and organized involving migrants’ relatives, friends and various kinds of agencies.Economical impact on Thailand is obvious and encourages further labor migration to Japan, especially remittance. However, the high brokerage fees make it difficult for migrants who cannot afford to pay. There are also negative social impacts such as family disruption including extramarital relationships, polygamy and divorce. Long-time separation brings these family problems on some returnees and makes their reintegration difficult. On Japanese side, migration brings several impacts economically, politically, and socially. Migration from Thailand fills in labor shortage in Japan. Japanese banks earn from service charges in sending migrants’ remittance. On the political aspect, migration issue has come to be discussed in various sectors. Considering aging of the population and low fertility in Japan, immigrants will be needed to sustain Japanese society. Thus, future social impact should be taken into consideration because if Thai migrants put in hard situation in Japan, their bitter experiences will affect on the future relationship between Thailand and Japan. The author believes that it is time for both Thai and Japanese people to work together and wrestle with migration issue.