Settlement experiences of Pakistani immigrant labourers in Malaysia

• Main Author: Tasleem, Zermina
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: HD4801-8943 Labor. Work. Working Class
• Online Access: https://etd.uum.edu.my/8576/1/s902358_01.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/8576/2/s902358_02.pdf; https://etd.uum.edu.my/8576/3/s902358_references.docx; https://etd.uum.edu.my/8576/

The Malaysian Department of Statistics (2019) recorded a total of 63,358 Pakistani low-skilled documented workers residing in Malaysia with an average annual growth rate of 11.42% since 2010. Despite the substantial share in the Malaysian labour market, only a handful of studies have assessed the settlement experiences of this emerging labour group in Malaysia. The literature depicts that migrant workers in Malaysia have been facing an array of issues, including low wage rate, language barrier, poor working and living conditions, and discrimination as well as lack of security and safety measures. Thus, this study looked into the settlement experiences of Pakistani labourers in Malaysia. The conceptual framework developed in this study was based on a critical review of prior studies while the theoretical foundation was constructed through the lens of push-pull model, neoclassical theory and social network theory. The interpretivism approach with a phenomenological nature from the light of qualitative research approach was employed, whereby data were gathered via semi-structured interviews held with 21 low-skilled Pakistani workers as well as three key persons from the Ministry. The findings revealed the complex nature of settlement, as viewed by the Pakistani participants; right from pre-migration expectations to their first experience upon arrival, employment, housing and involvement of social networks during their settlement in Malaysia. The foremost is the economic success in terms of better employment opportunities as well as a secure environment with better living standards and a serene life. Views derived from the informants were classified into workplace experiences, language barrier, training and flow of remittances. Several Pakistani participants asserted that they were indeed satisfied with the housing provided by their employers whereas the others preferred rental housing due to unsuitable housing provided by their employers. They faced several meandering issues, such as damp properties, pest infiltration and overcrowding, with the housing provided by their employers. In the rental market, affordability is a problem. Moving on, social networks played a significant role in addressing issues that they faced, either in providing information that led to premigration expectations or the reality faced during employment and undesirable housing experiences.