Abandoned boats: the circular migration of youth fisherfolks in the communities of Rizal

Abstract

They start fishing with an early age. They study, so they could work in the cities. They continue to fish, even if it's not sufficient. They dream to work somewhere else. They land a job in a factory. They work overtime, for they know their wages are barely enough. They come back. They spend income on food. Then get out to work in the cities. They come back. They get out to work. They come back. They get out to work. This thesis investigates the process of circular labor migration among the youth in the fishing communities of Rizal. It aims to reject the idea that rural-urban migration is merely a product of push and pull factors, but rather a phenomenon controlled by the prevailing global economic structure. This research describes the interconnectedness of the economic, cultural, political, and structural factors that are manifested as push and pull factors. The analysis of data in this study is divided in each stage of circular migration: pre-departure, on-site, the return, reintegration, and the vicious cycle, and its connection to globalization; in order to describe the forced and structural nature of circular migration holistically.