1. An Activity of ILO- ASEAN TRIANGLE PROJECT
ADDRESSING FAMILY ISSUES
THAT DRAIN MIGRANT
RESOURCES
An Activity of ILO- ASEAN TRIANGLE PROJECT
ATIKHA

2. OBJECTIVES
Understand gender and age inequalities within your families that drain you and act as barriers to achieve your goals for migration
Understand the specific challenges that arise when women migrate for work while their spouses and children remain at home
Share your challenges and success in coping with migration challenges
Identify ways in addressing some of the issues that hinder you from achieving your goal 1 2 3 4

3. Problems Caused by Overseas Migration
Communication gap & psychosocial problems of children
Dependency of the families on remittances
Irresponsibility in managing funds
Gap in the relationship with spouse
Growing extravagant
lifestyles
RELIANCE ON
REMITTANCE
PROLONGED
SEPARATION
OVERSEAS
MIGRATION
Overindulgence and
consumerism

4. Workshop Group Sharing

5. Guide Questions Have you achieved your goal for going to Thailand?
Are you able to save and invest for your long-term goal? If Yes, Who/What helped you achieve your goal. If No, Who/what hindered you from achieving your goal?
What are the challenges/pressures you face due to long-term separation with family
Are you expecting challenges related to spending and saving your money?
What can be done to address the issues you are confronted with?

6. PROBLEM PROBLEM Communication gap & psychosocial problems of children

7. SUGGESTIONS Maintain continuous and quality COMMUNICATION
Parents should do their ROLE as even if they are far away
Consider children in DECISION MAKING and goal setting
Children should share in the HOUSEWORK when mother is leaving
Open up PROBLEMS and concerns to children
Choose responsible CARETAKERS for their children

8. LEVELS OF COMMUNICATION BY FR. JOHN POWELL,SJ.
GUT LEVEL
FEELINGS
IDEAS
FACTS
CLICHÉ CONVERSATION

9. PROBLEM
Gap in the relationship with spouse

10. SUGGESTIONS Root out conflict and NEGOTIATE to resolve the conflict
Nurture the long distance relationship and COMMUNICATE your feelings
ADJUST to the role changes brought about by separation
PRIORITIZE family relations
Root out conflict and NEGOTIATE to resolve the conflict

11. PROBLEM
Over-dependency of the families on remittances

12. SUGGESTIONS Migrants should learn to say NO
Involve the family in budgeting and goal setting
Migrants should learn to value the contribution of their family members
Members of the family should value the hard work of relatives abroad

13. NO When to say NO When you are supporting wants not needs
When the recipient has been unemployed for a long time
When giving prevents you from achieving your own financial plan
When giving has negative effects on receiver NO

14. HOW TO SAY NO
INVOLVE THE WHOLE FAMILY AND DEPENDENTS IN FINANCIAL PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING 1
COMMUNICATE YOUR LIMITS.
WHAT TO SAY: “This is the only amount I can afford.” 2
STICK TO YOUR BUDGET ESPECIALLY DURING VACATION.
WHAT TO SAY: “I’m sorry it is not in my budget.” OR “I have used up all my budget for…” 3

15. PROBLEM
Growing extravagant lifestyles

16. SUGGESTIONS Involve the family in goal setting and financial planning
Be conscious of what you communicate regarding finances.

17. PROBLEM
Overindulgence and Consumerism

18. SUGGESTIONS
Migrants should refrain from using gifts to avoid feeling guilty
Learn ways to show affection towards family other than giving material things
Migrants must spend quality time with their family during vacation

19. Why it is important to discuss the social cost of migration especially of women’s migration?
Discussing the feminization of migration and the social cost of women’s migration does not mean blaming women
Open discussions encourage the sharing of responsibilities among men and women in fulfilling the nurturing role in the family.

20. THANK YOU www.atikha.org atikha@atikha.org (+6345) 562-3156
WEBSITE:
TELEFAX NO.:
(+6345)
MOBILE NO.:
(+63917)
ATIKHA
ATIKHA OVERSEAS WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE, INC.