Posted on 06 April 2023
Researchers used their findings from 450 qualitative interviews with employers and workers involved with migrant work in New Zealand and Australia to discover the impact on families back home in Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The findings revealed a number of challenges those in the home nations face, including compensating for the lost labour and many accounts of strained family relationships – particularly for those in rural areas with limited communications. It was also illustrated how the scheme changed gender roles, with similar results being found in a case study of labour mobility influencing gender norms in Tonga.
There were also many positives captured, including more harmonious family relationships and ease on financial stress, with most workers and their family reflecting on the situation positively.