Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized The Social Impacts of Seasonal Migration Lessons from Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme for Pacific Islanders Public Disclosure Authorized The Social Impacts of Seasonal Migration: Lessons from Australia’s Seasonal Worker Programme for Pacific Islanders Abstract The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) is a temporary migration scheme between Aus- tralia and selected Pacific Island Countries. It was introduced in 2012 and covers the ag- riculture, accommodation and tourism sectors. Extensive efforts have been made to eval- uate the economic impacts of the scheme, but there is a lack of evidence on the social impacts emanating from the extended absences of key family members. Moreover, of the 17,320 workers who have participated in the programme since its inception, only 13.7 per- cent have been women. There are gaps in understanding around the gendered impact of the programme and the constraints that prevent women from accessing the SWP. Based on a focus on the two largest participating countries in the scheme, Tonga and Vanuatu, this paper aims to: (i) assess both positive and negative social impacts of seasonal migra- tion and explore how negative consequences can be mitigated; and (ii) examine the experi- ence of women in the programme, explore the barriers to access and put forward a set of recommendations to increase the female participation rate. i © 2017 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved This work is a product of Consultants working for and the staff at The World Bank. 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All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group. 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; e-mail: pubrights@ worldbank.org Cover photo: Vedrana Music Cover design: Mai Chanthaboury iii Table of Contents Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................................................ vi Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................ ix 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Overview of Australia’s SWP ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background and Objectives of the Report .................................................................... 3 1.3 Research and Methodology .............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Structure of the Report ..................................................................................................... 7 2.Social Impacts of Seasonal Migration ...................................................................................... 9 2.1 Global Evidence on the Social Impacts of Migration ................................................... 9 2.2 Evidence from the Pacific .................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Setting the Context: Gender Norms and Roles ............................................................ 11 2.4 Core Findings ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.4.1 Positive social impacts of seasonal migration ...................................................... 13 2.4.2 Negative social impacts of seasonal migration .................................................... 20 3. Women’s Participation in the SWP .............................................................................................. 25 3.1 Defining Characteristics of Pacific Migrant Women .................................................. 25 3.2 Factors Underpinning Women’s Low Participation Rate .......................................... 29 3.3 Earnings, Costs, Remittances and Savings .................................................................. 36 3.4 Shifting Gender Roles as a Result of Participation .................................................... 39 4. Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 43 5.Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................... 45 5.1 Standards for Sending Country Authorities to Meet ................................................. 45 5.2 Standards to Establish for Approved Employers and Recruitment Agents ......... 47 5.3 Areas for Further Research .............................................................................................. 48 References .................................................................................................................................................................................... 49 iv Figures Figure 2.1 Community Leaders Reporting a Change in Men’s and Women’s Role as a Result of Participation in the SWP (%) .................................................... 14 Figure 2.2 Household Heads Reporting a Change in Men’s and Women’s Role as a Result of Participation in the SWP (%) .......................................................... 14 Figure 2.3 Households Reporting Certain Changes in Women’s and Men’s Roles Following Participation in the SWP (%) ............................................................ 15 Figure 2.4 Community Leaders Reporting a Negative Impact of Male and Female SWP Participation on Intimate Partner Relationships (%) .......................... 21 Figure 3.1 Marital Status of Male and Female Pacific Seasonal Workers (%) ............ 26 Figure 3.2 Highest Level of Education Completed for Male and Female Seasonal Workers (%) ............................................................................................................. 27 Figure 3.3 Community Leaders Reporting Male and Female Voices in the Selection Process (%) .............................................................................................................. 29 Figure 3.4 Groups That Were Reported by On-Site Workers as Discriminating Against Female Seasonal Workers (%) ............................................................. 32 Figure 3.5 Main Reasons Cited by Households Who Suggested Women Were Not Suited for