1. Full name of the researcher:Mr. Thi Mai Thuong 2. Gender:Female
3. Date of birth: 18/10/1985 4. Place of birth: Nghe An
5. Decision on recognition of PhD student number: 3684/QĐ-XHNVday 31 month12 years2015of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in training process: no
7. Thesis topic name:Social participation of overseas workers after returning home (case study of some communes and wards in Nghe An province)
8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62 31 03 01
10. Scientific advisor: Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Van Quyet
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
The research results show that overseas workers returning home face many difficulties in the process of participating in the domestic job market after a period of living and working abroad. They have difficulty in "searching and accessing information about jobs", "finding jobs suitable for their overseas work experience", "finding jobs suitable for their educational level", "difficulty reintegrating into the job market".
During the process of participating in economic activities after returning home, workers receive support from family, relatives, friends, fellow countrymen when working abroad, people from the same village, labor export consulting businesses in the area, most notably the help, sharing of information, business ideas and work experiences in their hometown. Most of them have not found useful information from state agencies in orienting their employment after returning.
On the contrary, it is undeniable that overseas workers have accumulated for themselves financial capital, social capital as well as valuable professional experience. And when returning, many people have skillfully applied those capital sources in the socio-economic context of their homeland to create success for themselves, and at the same time can contribute to creating more jobs for local workers, contributing to the development of their homeland.
Regarding participation in social groups, the research results show that after returning from abroad, workers participate in local social groups/organizations, including formal and informal social groups. The level of participation in social groups/organizations is not high, most of them are still very vague. In addition, the mutual relationship between returned workers and local social groups is shown in the aspect of "mutual help" interaction between them and other social groups. Local formal social groups/organizations have not really been proactive in caring for and supporting workers after returning from abroad. Their interaction with social groups is still mainly oriented towards informal social groups and related to their economic activities.
In terms of community and local government, there has been concern for returning overseas workers, but it is still superficial and not really close to this group, especially those who have just returned.
Regarding the initiative of returning overseas workers in participating in local social and community activities, the research results show that they are still mainly at the level of "not being proactive". Objectively, social organizations and local communities have not really been proactive in caring for their material and spiritual lives after returning. Subjectively, they have not yet recognized the importance and necessity of participating in social activities in daily life.
The connection between overseas workers and the local community after returning is reflected in the level of community reliance when they encounter difficulties. The research results show that returned workers mainly rely on themselves to solve the difficult problems they face. In addition, they also rely on social groups with close relationships such as relatives, friends, and then rely on other social groups such as neighbors and co-workers. It is noteworthy that local authorities or workplaces are not the social groups that they really trust and rely on when they encounter difficulties. It can be seen that the social network of returned overseas workers in this study is still narrowly clustered within the family, relatives, and friends. In terms of social participation, this group of workers has very limited participation in extended social relationships, especially relationships with people and government agencies, local organizations and workplaces. In terms of social capital, the research results show us that migrant workers are quite “poor” in their social capital.
12.Practical application: (if any): Used as reference material in teaching the courseSocial policy.
13.Further research directions:
14. Published works related to the thesis:
- Mr. Thi Mai Thuong, (2019), "The concept of social participation",Journal of Social Sciences – Journal of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences(3), pp. 103-112.
- Mr. Thi Mai Thuong (2019), "Studies on returning foreign workers and issues raised in Vietnam",Education and Society Magazine(4), pp. 242-246.
INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS
1. Full name:Mr. Thi Mai Thuong 2. Sex:Female
3. Date of birth: 18/10/1985 4. Place of birth: Nghe An
5.Admission decision number: 3684/2015/QD-XHNV December 31, 2015.
6.Changes in academic process:
7. Official thesis title: Social participation of migrant workers returned from overseas (Case study in some communes and wards in Nghe An province)
8. Major: Sociology 9. Code: 62310301
10. Supervisors:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Quyet
11.Summary of the new findings of the thesis:
The survey findings show that returned migrant workers face lots of difficulties during joining the domestic labor market after sometime living and working overseas. They face difficulty in “finding and accessing information on employment”; “finding jobs suitable to their labor migration experience” and “reintegration in local job market”.
During their economic activities after returning home, migrant workers receive support from their family, relatives, friends, members of the Association of People from the same hometown, villagers, labor supply enterprises, particularly in the field of information and business sharing and working experiences in the hometown. Most returned migrant workers have not yet found useful information provided by related government agencies as employment guidelines for them after their return.
On the contrary, it is undeniable that migrant workers have accummulated some financial and social capital as well as precious job experiences. After returning home, many of them have effectively used those of their capital sources in the local context, resulting in their success. At the same time, they can generate jobs for other people, contributing to local development.
On the participation in social groups and mass organizations, the research findings show that returned migrant workers joined some local social groups and mass organizations including formal and informal groups. The level of their participation in such groups is not high and mostly vague. Mutual help relations between returned migrant workers and local groups are shown in dimension: equal “mutual help” interrelation between them and other social groups. The formal local social organizations/groups are not proactive in caring for and supporting returned migrant workers. Their interactions tend to be with informal social groups rather than with formal social groups and groups related to their economic activities.
In terms of community dimension, although local authorities give attention to returned migrant workers, it remains formal, not close to them, particularly those who newly returned.
Regarding the proactive participation of returned migrant workers in community activity, the research findings show the level of their participation is “not proactive”. Objectively, local and community organizations do not pay attention to their material and spiritual lives upon their return. Subjectively, returned migrant workers are not yet aware of the importance and necessity of their participation in local social activities in the daily life. Their primary concern is their economic business and family life as these are the main reasons of their labor migration.
The attachment between returned migrant workers and the local community is shown in the indicator on the level of reliance on the community when facing difficulty. The research results show that most returned migrant workers rely on themselves to resolve the problems facing them. In addition, they also rely on social groups having close relations such as family members, relatives, and friends followed by other social groups such as neighbors and co-workers. Worthy of note is that local authorities and social organizations or the offices where they work are not social groups they trust for giving them support when they face difficulties. This shows that the social network of surveyed migrant workers is narrow, just within family, relatives and friends. In terms of social participation, this group of workers has limited participation in extended social groups, particularly limited relations with local people, authorities, mass organizations/social groups and work place. In terms of social capital, the survey findings show that returned migrant workers have poor social capital.
12. Practical applicability, if any: Used as reference material in the teaching of Social Policies.
13. Further research directions, if any.
14: Thesis-related publications:
- Ong Thi Mai Thuong (2019), “The concept of Social Participation”,Vietnam Social Sciences Review, VASS(3), pp.103-112.
- Ong Thi Mai Thuong (2019), “Researches about people returning home county after working abroad and the raised issues in Vietnam”,Journal of Education and Society(4), pp.242-246.
