2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Precarious and Positive Inclusion in Asian Transnational Labour Migration: Multi-sited Research of Nepali Migrant Workers in Japan and Malaysia
| Project/Area Number |
20K13709
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| Research Institution | Waseda University |
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Principal Investigator |
Sunam Ramesh 早稲田大学, 高等研究所, 講師(任期付) (30852719)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Labour migration |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
My Kakenhi research project draws on the comparative, multi-sited investigation of labor migration from Nepal to Japan and Malaysia. It is interdisciplinary project which seeks to generate nuanced, differentiated theoretical understandings of migrant precarity in Asia in the global context of the rapid growth of precarious employment.In terms of research achievements, despite the Covid-19 pandemic affecting research fieldwork, I have published two papers: One article in the peer-reviewed journal Geoforum and the other blog paper Focaal. Another big achievement is that I have been awarded a 2020 Waseda University Research Award (High-impact publication) (https://www.waseda.jp/inst/research/news-en/70925). I also gave an invited talk in the (virtual) Talk series: Japan’s Foreign Residents in the Age of COVID-19,organised by the Chuo University. Similarly, I presented papers at two conferences: the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) conference (international) and The Japanese Association for South Asian Studies 34th Annual Conference (Domestic).
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The research project is progressing well. In 2020-21, I had planned to conduct literature review; design survey questionnaire and create semi- structured interview guides; and conduct surveys and interviews in Japan and in Malaysia. As per the plan, I completed developing literature review, survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews guide. I carried out interviews and I am now conducting online surveys with Nepalese migrant workers living in Japan. Due to travel restrictions, I was not able to travel to Malaysia for conducting surveys and interviews. However, I will complete surveys and interviews in 2021-22 through field trip to Malaysia, depending on the Covid-19 situation.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For 2021-22, I have planned to finish the unfinished activities in 2020: surveys and interviews in Malaysia. I will also complete the data collection tasks: workshop and interviews in Nepal. I hope that travel restrictions will be relaxed soon so that I will be able to make field trips. If the Covid-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions continue, I will collect data using online tools (Google forms or Kobo) for surveys and Zoom for interviews. Then I will focus on analysing data and writing journal articles and book chapters. I will also present paper at the two conferences: The Japanese Association for South Asian Studies 34th Annual Conference Program (domestic) and the 12th International Convention of Asia Scholars (international).
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| Causes of Carryover |
Due to the pandemic and travel restrictions, I was not able to travel to undertake fieldwork across Japan and in Malaysia. I will use the remaining funds this year for conducting research activities.
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