PAKISTANI MIGRANT LABOURERS AND SOCIAL NETWORK: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA
Keywords:
Migrant labour, Social network, Network Theory, Malaysia, PakistanAbstract
This study attempts to address the remarkable role of social networks in developing pre-migration expectations of Pakistani migrant labourers towards Malaysia. The literature places focus on the role of social network vaguely without relying on the network theory, along with other broad concepts of social network. However, this study examined the influences of social network on migrant labourers while developing their pre-migration expectations by relying on four propositions of network theory of migration and with a detailed qualitative analysis of a labourer group from Pakistan to Malaysia. Different viewpoints were collected through interviews with 21 Pakistani migrant labourers from various areas of Malaysia. A range of thematic and dynamic questions were designed, the snowball sampling technique was applied, and the information was gathered until it hits the saturation point. Results indicated that both formal and informal network act an influential actor in initiating migration with a development of pre migration expectation. Social network such as migrant institutions also plays an important role in structuring migration decisions of Pakistani migrant labours in Malaysia. Hence, this study adds to the knowledge of social networks of Pakistani labourers in Malaysia and contributes theoretically to the migration data, which is a concern to everyone, both individuals and public administrators. This study may guide other researchers to formulate and understand some missing links.
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