Browsing by Author "Sana, Maya"

The aim of this study was to find out the development outcomes of circular migration between Guatemala and Canada in the individual lives of migrant workers. This circular migration program is based on the needs of Canadian employers in the agricultural sector to recruit foreign low-skilled labor. Local residents are not willing to work under harsh conditions and for low wages often offered by the sector. Thus, Guatemalan farmers travel to Canada to work on a circular basis. In Guatemala the program is administered by the International Organization for Migration and the Guatemalan government. In Canada, the responsible agency is the human resources and skills development department. The theoretical paradigm of this thesis is transnationalism. The connections between migration and development can be found in transnational activities of migrant workers, which take place in a space external to both the origin and destination countries. Positive connections between circular migration and development can be found in activities such as sending remittances, brain circulation and transfer of skills and knowledge. It has been argued that circular migration can result in a triple win situation from which the origin country, the destination country and the migrant can benefit. The method of this thesis is qualitative. Interviews with 25 Guatemalan circular migrant workers were conducted during an internship with the International Organization for Migration. The field research also included a trip to a rural Guatemalan town.All interviewees had travelled to Canada at least once. The interviews were recorded and the interview data was analyzed and coded according to content analysis. Quotes from original data were used to present research results. The interviews demonstrated that the circular migration program between Guatemala and Canada brought some positive outcomes to the lives of individual migrant workers. All migrant workers sent remittances back home to Guatemala. These were used on consumption, education of children, buying land, harvest and debts. The transfer of knowledge did not realize as well as expected. While Guatemalan workers learnt new methods and use of technology in Canada, most concluded that this knowledge did not benefit their work in Guatemala. Circular migration between Guatemala and Canada can be connected to the larger discussion of temporary migrant worker programs and their possible links to development. On the one hand the developed world needs foreign workers for sectors such as agriculture and construction because of aging population, low wages on these sectors and increased wellbeing. On the other hand production is being transferred to low wage developing countries. Temporary worker programs have also received criticism due to restrictions on migrant workers’ rights. Based on this study the program has its flaws while it brings much needed income to the poor rural participant workers’ households in Guatemala.