USES OF MIGRANTS’ REMITTANCES IN THE HOME COUNTRY: FOCUSING ON THE CASE OF PAKISTANI LABOR MIGRANTS IN SOUTH KOREA

Abstract

This research paper has elucidated important factors and international remittance utilization areas in Pakistan. Due to the political and economic situation of the country, the people migrate to developed countries to earn better living standards for themselves and, the left-behind families. As of 2018, the Bureau of Immigration & Overseas Employment, Government of Pakistan counts 15472 Pakistanis living in South Korea.

In a bid to fully conduct this research, the structured interviews are conducted with Pakistani labor migrants residing in district Gwangju, South Korea. During the interview, participants are asked about the migration process, difficulties in the settlement, working environment, and volume of monthly remittances sent to their home country. The main purpose of the study is to investigate the current situation of Pakistani labor migrants in South Korea and to explore how their remittances are being utilized by their family members in Pakistan.

Pakistani labor migrants are migrating to Korea through the Bureau of Immigration & Overseas Employment, Government of Pakistan, to work in Korean factories. The observed motive of migration is the income generation that is utilized to improve the living standard of their families in Pakistan. As this study shows, transfer remittances are used to cover daily living expenses such as food, health, education, and other emergency needs such as medical, marriages, and funerals. The part of the transfer remittance is also used to establish a business in their home country for extra income generation and creation of employment opportunities for local people. Prior to the migration, the migrants learned the basic level of Korean language skills from their home country, but these skills did not reduce their difficulty in communication. The most prominent problem being faced by the migrants is the unavailability of halal food which is very important regarding their religious beliefs.

Key words: Remittance, development, income, labor migrants, remittance utilization areas.