In The News

Sleepy City Has High Hopes, Dreaming of High Tech

David Rohde November 20, 2003
The sleepy farm state capital of Chandigarh may soon become the "technology hub of northern India." In recent years, tens of thousands of jobs have flooded to India from the US and Europe as high tech companies, attracted by cheap, qualified labor, transfer their call centers en masse. India's "first tier" technology hubs, including cities like Bangalore and Bombay,...

After the Crossing, Danger to Migrants Isn't Over

Charlie LeDuff November 11, 2003
A wave of violence has hit the Southwest US that is reminiscent of the drug wars of years past. But the victims now are illegal immigrants, caught in the crossfire of competing gangs, not members of rival drug cartels. Because of increased security after September 11, the price demanded for human smuggling across the US-Mexico border has increased drastically, rendering such operations almost...

The Future of Migration - Part Two

Lant Pritchett November 9, 2003
In Part II of a two-part series on the future of migration, economist Lant Pritchett argues that the forces building up to another wave of mass migration face opposition in the form of ideas. Simply put, he says, "the primary reason there is not more migration is that the citizens of the industrialized world don't want it." People in the industrialized world - the main...

Healthy Dose of Capitalism?

Fatemah Farag November 7, 2003
Occupational hazards are a global problem. The International Labor Organization estimates that two million women and men die as a result of occupational accidents and work-related diseases each year, eliminating four percent of the world's GDP. This weekend, a UN-led conference in Germany brought together non-governmental organizations, international businesses, and labor leaders to discuss...

The Future of Migration - Part One

Lant Pritchett November 5, 2003
Immigration is an issue that elicits heated views from all sides of the political and economic spectrum. In the 21st century, how might we expect our lives and societies to be affected by changes in immigration? In Part One of a two-part series, economist Lant Pritchett argues that there are five irresistible forces setting the world up for a new wave of mass migration. Topping the list are...

Compulsory Insurance Scheme for Migrant Sri Lankan Workers in United Arab Emirates

Meraj Rizvi October 30, 2003
There will soon be a new mandatory insurance scheme for Sri Lankan migrant laborers working in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. As mandated by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, all prospective employers of Sri Lankans must now obtain an insurance policy for employees prior to submission of the worker's contract to the hiring agency. The Sri Lankan...

India's Call Centers Face Struggle to Keep Staff as Economy Revives

Ashok Bhattacharjee October 29, 2003
One the paradoxes of the call-center industry in India is that it requires English-speaking university graduates to answer questions from US customers but offers little in the way of advancement and intellectual stimulation. High turn-over rates are inevitable if the economy keeps expanding and thus offers more compelling employment options for well-educated Indians. Moreover, the rapid...