Profiling international migrant labours by socio-demographic characteristics and motivational factors: The case of tourism and hospitality industry

Shariff, Nurhazani Mohd; Nor, Nor Ashikin Mohd; Abidin, Azlan Zainol

International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences

Int. j. adv. appl. sci.

EISSN: 2313-3724

Print ISSN: 2313-626X

Volume 4, Issue 2 (February 2017), Pages: 61-67

Title: Profiling international migrant labours by socio-demographic characteristics and motivational factors: The case of tourism and hospitality industry

Author(s): Nurhazani Mohd Shariff ^1, *, Nor Ashikin Mohd Nor ¹, Azlan Zainol Abidin ²

Affiliation(s):

¹School of Tourism, Hospitality & Environmental Management, UUM COLGIS, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
²School of Languages, Civilization & Philosophy, UUM CAS, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2017.02.011

Full Text - PDF XML

Abstract:

Purpose of this study is to profile the international migrant labours who are legally working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia. Langkawi has been chosen to present the scope of the study due to the fact that it is a world tourist destination. The profile presents a various pattern of international migrant labours socio-demographic characteristics and factors motivating them to work in the industry. It is noted that majority of the international migrant labours who are working in the tourism and hospitality industry in Langkawi consists of male within the range of 18 – 30 years old and single. Interestingly, majority of them are Indonesian, having a certificate and mostly educated from secondary school. Majority of them also contributes as semi-skilled labours. Regardless of various sectors in the tourism and hospitality industry, the international migrant labours enjoy working in the accommodation sector. Most of them have been working for 1 – 5 years and receiving an income of RM1,000 – RM4,999 per month. The profile also highlights that majority of the international migrant labours want to gain new experience and most of them are also following their friends. Langkawi is chosen as a destination due to the fact that it is a beautiful island, easy to get around and also a peaceful place to work. Further, it is emphasized in the profile that the international migrant labours have chosen to work in the accommodation sector based on high wages factor.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Keywords: International migrant labors, Socio-demographic characteristics, Motivational factors, Tourism and hospitality industry, Profiling

Article History: Received 5 November 2016, Received in revised form 1 February 2017, Accepted 3 February 2017

Digital Object Identifier:

https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2017.02.011

Citation:

Shariff NM, Nor NAM, and Abidin AZ (2017). Profiling international migrant labours by socio-demographic characteristics and motivational factors: The case of tourism and hospitality industry. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 4(2): 61-67

http://www.science-gate.com/IJAAS/V4I2/Shariff.html

References:

Ajis MN, Keling MF, Othman Z, and Shuib MS (2014). The dilemma of managing foreign workers in Malaysia: opportunities and challenges. Global Journal of Human Social-Science: Political Science, 14(4):43-53.

Bachtiar N, Fahmy R, and Ismail R (2015). The demand for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector in Malaysia. Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, 49(92): 135-147. https://doi.org/10.17576/JEM-2015-4902-11

Choi JG, Woods RH, and Murrmann SK (2000). International labor markets and the migration of labor forces as an alternative solution for labor shortages in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 12(1): 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110010305154

Del Carpio X, Karupiah R, Marouani M, Ozden C, Testaverde M, and Wagner M (2013). Immigration in Malaysia: Assessment of its Economic Effects, and a Review of the Policy and System. World Bank, Washington DC. Vancouver, Canada.

Devine F, Baum T, Hearns N, and Devine A (2007). Cultural diversity in hospitality work: the Northern Ireland experience. International Journal of Human resource Management, 18(2): 333-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190601102596

Hassan CH (2009). Buruh asing di Malaysia: Trend, kaedah, kesan, masalah dan cara mengatasinya [Foreign labour in Malaysia: trends, methods, impacts, problems and strategies to solve the problems]. Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, 14(1): 119-132.

IOM (2010). International Organization for Migration, Labour migration from Indonesia: An overview of Indonesia migration to selected destinations in Asia and the Middle-East. International Organization for Migration, Jakarta, Indonesia. Available online at: http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/shared/shared/mainsite/published_docs/Final-LM-Report-English.pdf

Krejcie RV and Morgan DW (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3): 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

Lee-Ross D and Pryce J (2010). Human resources and tourism: Skills, culture and industry. Channel View Publications, Bristol, UK.

Mohamed RKMH, Ramendran C, and Yacob P (2012). The impact of employment of foreign workers: Local employability and trade union roles in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2(10): 530-541.

Monk J and Alexander C (1986). Free port fallout: gender, employment, and migration on Margarita Island. Annals of Tourism Research, 13(3): 393-413. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(86)90027-7

Rogers A, Anderson B, and Clark N (2009). Recession, vulnerable workers and immigration. Center on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS). Available online at: https://www.compas. ox.ac.uk/media/PR-2009-Recession_Vulnerable_Workers.pdf

Sekaran U and Bougie R (2010). Research methods. For business: a skill building approach. 5^th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex, UK.

Todaro MP (1976). Internal migration in developing countries. International Labour Office, Geneva, Switzerland.

Williams A and Hall CM (2000). Tourism and migration: new relationships between production and consumption. Tourism Geographies, 2(1), 5-27. https://doi.org/10.1080/146166800363420

Williams AM (2007). International labour migration and tacit knowledge transactions: a multi-level perspective. Global Networks, 7(1): 29-50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0374.2006.00155.x