Broadsight (April 2014)

It is with great pleasure to present April's edition of Broadsight. The corporate monthly magazine from The Broadgate Financial Group. To view full interactive of Broadsight April 2014, go to http://joom.ag/iecX

Transcript

1. April 2014 Issue no. 11
2. G eneric Insight Individual Social Responsibility Sustainability C O N T E N T SONGKRAN’s ROOT 7-8 LABOUR MOVEMENT IN ASIA ON THE COUCH WITH VALENTIN : 12 14-18 >> p. 5-6 >> p. 12 >> p. 9-11 INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY : BANGKOK VANGUARDS 9-11 Bangkokvanguards (www.bangkokvanguards.com) was founded by David Pfizenmaier and Michael Biedaseek, two passionate travelers and explorers. NEWS REPORT: ASEAN NEWS 4 BROADGATE: 21ST CENTURY INTERNSHIP 5-6 Develoment News in ASEAN Our 21st century economy presents considerable challenges to many: Hardest hit: Labour movements are likely to increase due to the further integration of Southeast Asian countries in the ASEAN Economic Community. Guest interview with Sebastian Leyland; Talking about NLP. Often called ʻwater festivalʼ Songkran is the ancient New Yearʼs Day happening from 13th to 15th of April.
3. E D I T O R I A L April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 3 E d i t o r i a l Muhammad Farhan Azama muhammad@broadgatefinancial.com |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Baptiste Laborde-Balen baptiste@broadgatefinancial.com |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Valentin Fischer valentin@broadgatefinancial.com Simon Osborne Managing Director
4. E D I T O R I A L April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 4 Philippines - Crony capitalists did not disappear after the Marcos regime was deposed through People Power in 1986 Source BRUNEI- THE further reduction of the corporate tax for Bruneian companies in 2015 Source INDONESIA - Indonesia’s raucous election season kicked off on Sunday with the promise of a fresh style of leadership Source MYANMAR - Burmese environmentalists and experts from the Mekong region are speaking out against degradation to watershed areas of the Irrawaddy River Source
5. E D I T O R I A L April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 5 Our 21st century economy presents considerable challenges to many: Hardest hit: the recent graduate struggling to find work among a sea of applicants; some with far more experience and industry knowledge. In 21st Century Internships – How to get a job before graduation, Mr David Shindler and Mr Mark Babbitt take a non-nonsense look at the importance of internships to your early career; the development of soft skills that go well beyond what might have been learned in the classroom; and impact of hands-on experience on your ability to become highly employable. The book described the one critical point, however, remains the same: an internship is hands-on, experiential training that enables the intern to apply learned theory to the real world. INTERNSHIP
6. E D I T O R I A L April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 6 Today, internships are typically for current students of higher education; often for school credit. In addition, recent graduates and young professionals with describe to gain experience also seek internships. Internships are unique opportunities to learn, grow and develop in-demand professional skills. Source: www.BookBoon.com “21st Century Internships” (Authors David Shindler and Mark Babbitt) if you want to download whole e-book please click 21st century internships or visit: Asia Internship Programme
7. N E W S R E P O R T April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 7 Songkran is the most important feast for Thai people. Often called ʻwater festivalʼ Songkran is the ancient New Yearʼs Day happening from 13th to 15th of April. Originally the date for Songkran was set by astrological calculations. Until 1888 it marked the beginning of new year in Thailand. The feast takes place during the hottest time of the year and marks the end of the dry season. Songkran dates back many centuries and it is believed to be deduced from the Sankranti Hindu festival. The date is also tremendously convenient for many Thai people as it is the time of the year when farmers are free from routine duties. People traditionally would greet each other by saying : ʻsawatdi pi maiʻ, basically „Happy New Year“ but nowadays most people use ʻsuk san wan songkranʼ which means „Happy Songkran Day.“ Songkran is the time when people scrupulously clean everything such as: -Buddha statues -Their house -Their spirit Songkran's Roots
8. S E Q U O I A C L U B April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 8 Originally one poured water into the palms with the goal of bad actions and bad thoughts to flow away with the water. It is a way to purify oneself. -At the temple people are pouring water, which has been cleaned by the monks, on Buddha statues. -In the streets many people put Buddha statues on top of their cars and spray water on it to purify. -In big cities like Bangkok or Chiang Mai the most honoured Buddha image is carried in a procession through the streets to an open place to sprinkle water on it to show oneʼs veneration. Some people also free fishes or birds hoping that the animals will take away the bad luck from their liberators. Another tradition is to build small pagodas called ʻPHRA CHEDI SAIʼ. For that reason Thais carry sand into the temples on the second day of Songkran festival. They believe that every time they visit a temple during the year they take away some sand on their feet. As it is monastic property they return the sand to the monks during Songkran. Today the festival has partly degraded to a water splashing event. People on pick up trucks drive through the streets throwing ice water on sidewalkers and vehicles. This also attracts many foreigners to take part in the festivity. Songkran is traditionally a time to visit relatives and pay respect to elders. Thatʼs why many young people who live and work in Bangkok during the year go back to their families in the rural areas, since it is the longest holiday that most people get in a year. Baptiste Laborde-Balen
9. F U N G A T E
10. March 2014 - Issue no. 10 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 10 BANGKOK VANGUARDS Bangkokvanguards (www.bangkokvanguards.com) was founded by David Pfizenmaier and Michael Biedaseek, two passionate travelers and explorers.
11. R O A D G A T E It has rapidly grown to a large community of Thailand fanatics, passionate about connecting Thai people and visitors. Bangkokvanguards organizes excursions to the hidden secrets of Bangkok and stays in contact with many local communities. “We try to combine the travel part and the volunteering”, says David. Going deep behind the scenes and taking alternative paths is what theyʼre enthusiastic about. This approach has provided them with unique insights and knowledge of local communities and exceptional places. Besides organizing adventurous tours, Bangkokvanguards organizes unconventional campaigns such as : WIPE THE TIDE SANTA CAUSE ADD ONE Car washing for a little donation Visiting the slums with gifts to spread happiness To add one additional item to your shopping basket to support the flood victims
12. WE GET ALOT OF LOVE AND DONATIONS FROM THE EXPAT COMMUNITY “ “ Valentin Fischer A promising project already in the pipline is called VLAB which stands for Vanguards Laboratory. The idea is to make additional education opportunites for children available. VLAB is designed to improve childrenʼs english skills and social capabilities at the same time. The goal is to teach in a different way. “They should have fun”, says David. David seems to me very passionate about having a positive impact on society and in my opinion thatʼs a honorable attitude.
13. March 2014 - Issue no. 10 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 13 ON THE COUCH WITH Valentin This monthʼs guest : Sebastien Leblond Author, Speaker & Master Coach
14. A N A L Y S I S O F T H E M O N T H
15. April 2014 - Issue no. 11 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 15 L A B O U R M O V E M E N T I N A S I A The purpose of this article is to provide an overview regarding the movements of labour within Southeast Asia. Labour movements are likely to increase due to the further integration of Southeast Asian countries in the ASEAN Economic Community. Thatʼs why it remains an importent issue in the region. This article investigates the reasons for labour to move as well as the social impact it can have on society. From an economic perspective, labour mobility is very desirable because it helps to employ labour where it is most productive. However in reality the migrating workers have to overcome many difficulties such as discrimination at the workplace and separation from their families. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the migration from India and China into Southeast Asia was one of the predominant forces shaping Asian globalization. Migration was largely unrestricted and led to the emergence of plural societies in the colonial countries (Kaur 2009). For example, Indians were brought into Malaysia to work on rubber plantations. And the tin miners in the country recruited the Chinese for doing the mining because the Malays didnʼt want to do it. (Christopher Bruton, Dataconsult) Over the last decades Southeast Asia has re-emerged as a major player in global migration movements (Kaur 2009). In the 1970s and 1980s international migration increased dramatically. Most of the emigrants went to the US, Australia or the oil economies in the Middle East. From the 1990s labour migration within Southeast Asia has experienced a rapid growth. Especially from less developed contries with a large labour surplus to the newly industrializing countries (NIC) in the region. The fast economic growth and declining fertility rates in the NIC increased their demand for labour (See graphics 1&2). However migration has not only facilitated economic growth but also disrupted many families. Asian governments try to strictly control migration, which leads to immigrants having limited rights. While policy makers are open to temporary migration they try to prohibit family reunion.
16. March 2014 - Issue no. 10 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 16 Des$na$on  Countries         Origin  Countries -­‐  Malaysia           -­‐Philippines -­‐Brunei           -­‐Indonesia -­‐Singapore           -­‐Burma -­‐Thailand           -­‐Thailand
17. F U N G A T E February 2014 - Issue no. 9 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 17 Reasons  for  increased  interna$onal  labour  movements  over  the  past  decades -­‐increasing  income  differen:als  between  countries -­‐declining  fer:lity  rates  in  newly  industrializing  countries -­‐ending  of  major  conflicts  in  the  region -­‐lower  financial  costs  of  transporta:on  and  communica:on  (see  graphic  3) Illegal  Migra$on Both  the  migra:on  to  the   Gulf  and  within  Asia  is   mostly  organized  by  migrant   agents  and  labour  brokers.   This  is  largely  due  to  the   unwillingness  of  the   receiving  countries  to  make   agreements  with  the   countries  of  origin.  (hKp:// www.migra:onpolicy.org/ ar:cle/migra:on-­‐asia-­‐ pacific-­‐region)   A  substan:al  part  of  the   migra:on  is  illegal.  There  are   many  individuals  and   organiza:ons  that  engage  in   smuggling  and  trafficing  of   workers.  In  the  early  21st   century,  6.1  million  Asians   were  employed  outside  their   own  countries  within  the   Asian  region,  according  to   Australian  demographer   Graeme  Hugo.  He  roughly   es:mated  the  number  of   illegal  migrants  in  Southeast   Asian  countries  to  be  around   3.8  million.   According  to  the   Interna:onal  Organiza:on   for  Migra:on,  Thailand  itself   hosts  up  to  1.7  million  illegal   workers,  mainly  from  Burma   and  Cambodia. Most  of  them  are  occupied   in  so  called  3D  jobs  (dirty,   dangerous  and  demeaning). Because  of  their  illegal   status  they  are  not   protected  by  the  Thai   Labour  Protec:on  Act.   Therefore  their  working   condi:ons  are  oZen  very   poor  : -­‐unpaid  over:me -­‐delayed  wage  payments -­‐no  regular  days  off   Especially  Cambodian   workers  oZen  face   discrimina:on  at  the   workplace.  Discrimina:on   can  occasionally  manifest   itself  in  terms  of  physical   abuse  (Walsh  and  Ty  2010).   Illegal  migra:on  is  oZen   welcome  because  it  can   meet  labour  demands   spontaneously  and   effec:vely.
18. March 2014 - Issue no. 10 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 18 Labour  Movements  within   Thailand There  are  also  big   movements  within  Thailand.   Christopher  Bruton  from   Dataconsult  stated  that  the   inequality  within  Thailand   doesn’t  seem  to  improve.   Instead  of  convergence  we   see  divergence  in  income   gaps.  This  drives  even  more   people  from  the  rural   regions  in  Thailand  to   Bangkok. Because  of  the  significant   levels  of  internal  migra:on,   around  20  percent  of  Thai   children  are  not  living  with   their  parents.  This  raises   concerns  over  migra:on’s   impact  on  the  welfrae  of   children  leZ  behind   (Thailand  Migra:on  Report,   2011). Economic  Theory  : -­‐The  impact  of  immigra:on   on  wages  and  employment   depends  on  whether  the   skills  of  the  immigrants  are   subs:tutes  or  complements   to  the  local  labour  force. -­‐Labour  movements  can  be   beneficial  for  the  origin   country  as  well  as  for  the   des:na:on  country.  Why?  In   the  origin  country,    the   wages  will  rise  as  a  result  of   the  decline  in  labour  supply.   In  the  des:na:on  country,  if   the  incoming  workers   complement  the  exis:ng   work  force  the  overall   produc:vity  of  labour   increases  and  wages  will   therefore  rise. -­‐Immigra:on  also  rec:fies   market  failures  that  result   from  the  uncertainty  of   output  produc:on,  which   itself  is  the  result  of   incomplete  informa:on  in   the  labour  market. -­‐It  is  beneficial  for  an   economic  system  when   produc:on  factors  such  as   labour  and  capital  are   employed  where  they  are   most  produc:ve.
19. F U N G A T E Social  Impact  : All  over  the  world  it  can  be   observed  that  during  an   economic  crisis,  migrants  get   blamed  for  high   unemployment  rates  and   low  wages.  This  can  disrupt   socie:es  and  put  restric:ve   labour  laws  in  place. AZer  1992  women  migra:on   began  to  outnumber  men   migra:on.  The  majority  of   them  are  employed  in   domes:c  care  and  in  the   entertainment  industry. Many  women  in  Indonesia,   the  Philippines  and  Sri  Lanka   are  forced  to  move  abroad   to  find  jobs.  Due  to  the   inability  to  come  up  with   collateral  they  cannot  secure   a  loan  which  prevents  them   from  engaging  in  small  scale   business.   While  women  labour   migra:on  has  increased  their   status  and  augmented  their   decision-­‐making  power  in   the  family,  they  face   tremendous  challenges  in   playing  the  mother  role. (UNESCAP  2008) It  has  been  found  that   Mother’s  migra:on  has  a   greater  impact  on  family   structure  than  father’s   migra:on  does.  When  men   leave  the  family  structure   stays  intact.  But  men  oZen   don’t  take  over  the   responsibili:es  when  their   wifes  leave,  which  can  yield   to  a  distrup:on  in  the  family. Women  also  tend  to  send  a   higher  percentage  of  their   income  back  home  to  their   families  than  men  do.  A   possible  explana:on  for  this   is  that  they  tend  to  have   stronger  links  with  their   families  and  therefore  send   money  more  regularily   (Osaki,  1999:  Global   Comission  on  Interna:onal   Migra:on  2005). According  to  UNESCAP  2006   some  leZ-­‐behind  children   are  said  to  develop,   psychological  and  social   problems  and  are  more  likely   to  become  juvenile   delinquents.  In  the  long  run   this  can  result  in   considerable  costs  for  a   society.  Ins:tu:ons  have  to   be  created  to  prevent  this   from  happening  and  ensure   that  the  benfits  of  labour   movements  outweigh  thes   costs. In  conclusion  we  can  say  that   many  things  are  happening   in  Southeast  Asia.  It  will   remain  a  vibrant  economic   region.  The  upcoming  ASEAN   Economic  Community  will   benefit  the  member   countries  and  ensure  a   dynamic  economic   environment.  Labour   movements  and  it’s  impact   on  the  current  and  future   genera:ons  will  certainly   remain  an  important  issue.   Valentin Fischer
20. March 2014 - Issue no. 10 Copyright © 2014 Broadsight - A Broadgate Initiative 20
21. F U N G A T E
22. The  views  and  opinions  expressed  in  this  ar:cle  are  those  of  the  authors  and  do  not  necessarily   reflect  the  official  posi:on  of  The  Broadgate  Financial  Group. Broadgate Consultants (Thailand) Ltd. 2811, Level 28, The Offices at Central World, 999/9 Rama 1 Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand +66 2264 5706 +66 2646 1004 info@broadgatefinancial.com 13.5.2014