Full name: Ong Thi Mai Thuong                                      2. Sex:  Female

Date of birth: 18/10/1985                                               4. Place of birth: Nghe An

5. Admission decision number: 3684/2015/QD-XHNV December 31, 2015.

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: Social participation of migrant workers returned from overseas (Case study in some communes and wards in Nghe An province)

8. Major:  Sociology                                                      9. Code: 62310301

10. Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Quyet

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The survey findings show that returned migrant workers face lots of difficulties during joining the domestic labour market after sometime living and working overseas. They face difficulty in “finding and accessing information on employment”; “finding jobs suitable to their labour migration experience” and “reintegration in local job market”.

During their economic activities after returning home, migrant workers receive support from their family, relatives, friends, members of the Association of People from the same hometown, villagers, labour supply enterprises, particularly in the field of information and business sharing and working experiences in the hometown. Most returned migrant workers have not yet found useful information provided by related government agencies as employment guidelines for them after their return.

On the contrary, it is undeniable that migrant workers have accummulated some finncial and social capital as well as precious job experiences. After returning home, many of them have effectively used those of their capital sources in the local context, resulting in their success. At the same time, they can generate jobs for other people, contributing to local development.

On the participation in social groups and mass organizations, the research findings show that returned migrant workers join some local social groups and mass organizations including formal and informal groups. The level of their participation in such groups is not high and mostly vague. Mutual help relations between returned migrant workers and local groups are shown in dimension: equal “mutual help” interrelation between them and other social groups. The formal local social organizations/groups are not proactive in caring for and supporting returned migrant workers. Their interrelations tend to be with informal social groups rather than with formal social groups and groups related to their economic activities.

In terms of community dimension, although local authorities give attention to returned migrant workers, it remains formal, not close to them, particularly those who newly returned.

Regarding the proactive participation of returned migrant workers in community activity, the research findings show the level of their participation is “not proactive”. Objectively, local and community organizations do not pay attention to their material and spiritual lives upon their return. Subjectively, returned migrant workers are not yet aware of the importance and necessity of their participation in local social activities in the daily life. Their primary concern is their economic business and family life as these are the main reasons of their labour migration.

The attachment between returned migrant workers and the local community is shown in the indicator on the level of relying on the community when facing difficulty. The research results show that most returned migrant workers rely on themselves to resolve problems facing them. In addition, they also rely on social groups having close relations such as family members, relatives, and  friends followed by other social groups such as neighbors and co-workers. Worthy of note is that local authorities and social organizations or the offices where they work are not social groups they trust for giving them support when they face difficulties. This shows that the social networking of surveyed returned migrant workers is narrow, just within family, relatives and friends. In terms of social participation, this group of workers has limited participation in extended social groups, particularly limited relation with local people, authorities, mass organizations/social groups and work place. In terms of social capital, the survey findings show that returned migrant workers have poor social capital.

12. Practical applicability, if any: Used as reference material in the teaching of Social Policies.

13. Further research directions, if any.

14: Thesis-related publication:

- Ong Thi Mai Thương (2019), “The concept of Social Participation”, Vietnam Social Sciences Review, VASS (3), pp.103-112.

- Ong Thi Mai Thương (2019), “Researches about people returning home county after working abroad and the raised issues in Vietnam”, Journal of Education and Society (4), tr.242-246.