Khiteva Alexandra

The Philippine Labor Migration: А Potential Role for the Development of Russian-Philippine Relations

ЮГО-ВОСТОЧНАЯ АЗИЯ: АКТУАЛЬНЫЕ ПРОБЛЕМЫ РАЗВИТИЯ, 2023, №5(61), 166-177

 
Annotation: The article assesses the role of Filipino labor migration to the Russian Far East in shaping the relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and the Russian Federation. On revealing the impact of the Spanish colonial heritage on the Philippines’ demographic and, by extension, migration policy, the article proceeds to examining the institutional and regulatory mechanisms that facilitate labor migration, with a specific focus on how sponsor visas stimulate this process. Finally, the paper turns to exploring the prerequisites and the potential for intensifying cooperation between Russia and the Philippines in the field of labor migration. Major factors of mutual interest in turning this direction into a fundamental driving force for strengthening ties between the two countries with a multiplier effect for both are identified. The author's desk research is complemented by her own fieldwork, which included a series of interviews with citizens of the Republic of the Philippines employed in the Russian Federation. As relations between Russia and the Philippines have not been explored from this research perspective, novelty, originality and practical significance of the study is obvious.

Keywords: Philippine labor migration, sponsorship visa, Asia-Pacific region, ASEAN, Philippines, Russia, Far East