Devika Raman

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Labour Migration4 Jan 2026

Recruitment Debt and Job Changes among Nepali Workers Returning from Malaysia

Rohan Thapa, Devika Raman

Recruitment borrowing can influence workers' choices long after arrival in a destination country. This study examines the relationship between recruitment debt and job changes among Nepali workers returning from Malaysia. A survey of 336 returnees in four districts was combined with 44 employment-history interviews and examination of available recruitment receipts. Event-history models related the timing of job changes to repayment schedules, reported workplace conditions, and access to support networks. Workers facing high monthly repayments were less likely to leave jobs during the first year, even when they reported unpaid overtime or differences from promised duties. Informal assistance from relatives sometimes enabled later moves by covering temporary income gaps. Receipts captured only part of recruitment expenditure because several payments were described as personal facilitation charges. The findings link debt pressure to constrained employment mobility. Returnee recruitment excludes workers still abroad and may overrepresent disrupted migration trajectories. Recruitment monitoring should account for the timing and full composition of worker payments alongside contract terms and formal fee schedules.

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Migration Policy and Governance11 Sept 2025

Appointments, Interpreters and Access to Municipal Registration in Southern Europe

Devika Raman

Municipal registration can be an important gateway to services, but administrative access depends on more than formal eligibility. This comparative study examines registration experiences among recently arrived migrants in two southern European cities. Researchers observed 91 advice sessions, interviewed 57 applicants and 24 municipal or civil-society staff, and analysed anonymised appointment records over six months. Process mapping identified delays between initial enquiries, document preparation, appointments, and completed registration. Applicants relying on shared phones or informal interpretation were more likely to miss rescheduled appointments and repeat visits. Civil-society organisations helped resolve contradictory document requests but absorbed substantial unpaid coordination work. Differences between offices within each city were sometimes greater than differences between the two municipal systems. The findings show how appointment design and language support shape the practical accessibility of registration. The study does not evaluate all legal categories or estimate citywide exclusion. Municipal service improvement should include clear notices, consistent document guidance, and supported interpretation while tracking unsuccessful attempts as well as completed registrations.