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Author: Maria Martha Aguilar Centeno
Maria Martha Aguilar Centeno
Thesis Title: Coffee-pickers in the Northern Region of Nicaragua: Their Challenges as Migrant Labor
Coffee-pickers in the Northern Region of Nicaragua: Their Challenges as Migrant Labor
Advisor: 張媁雯
Chang, Wei-Wen
Degree: 碩士
Master
Department: 國際人力資源發展研究所
Graduate Institute of International Human Resource Developmemt
Thesis Publication Year: 2013
Academic Year: 101
Language: 英文
Number of pages: 114
Keywords (in Chinese): coffee harvestingmigrant labor
Keywords (in English): coffee harvesting, migrant labor
Thesis Type: Academic thesis/ dissertation
Reference times: Clicks: 126Downloads: 8
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  • This research explores the life of coffee-pickers in the Northern Region of Nicaragua.
    This group is an important workforce for the agricultural industry in Nicaragua, which is the
    main industry of the country’s economy. The focal point is their life experience as migrant labor
    being the primary research purpose is to provide an in-depth explanation about the labor
    migration phenomenon that is given during the coffee harvesting in Nicaragua. The reasons why
    these labors migrate, how is the migration experience and what are difficulties of the process,
    were explored. For the migration process, the pull and push theory was used as theoretical
    framework to analyze the influence it has on the coffee-pickers decisions to migrate. Notable
    challenges faced by these migrant labors as employees have been identified therefore the
    compliance of the labor employment practices code laws as well as the coffee harvesting
    employment regulations from the employers side were investigated, issues such as salary
    compliance, child labor in the workplace, accommodation, health security have been addressed.
    Qualitative techniques are the main method of inquiry; previous observation has been conducted
    by the researcher. For data collection the triangulation method has been used in order to gather
    different perspectives about this issue from three important sources. 10 experts and 6 employers
    have been in depth interviewed to collect data about coffee pickers’ migration process. In order
    to collect data from the 50 employees’ that were part of sample, a structured interview was
    conducted. The review of documentation has also been a vital source of information that helped
    the researcher to have a better understanding of the research topic and about this particular
    workforce. The results obtained have direct implications on the public sector and the role it plays
    in the coffee production, as well on the employers and their management of migrant workers and
    finally and most important for employees as an opportunity to express their satisfaction as coffee
    pickers and the law compliance from the employers.

    This research explores the life of coffee-pickers in the Northern Region of Nicaragua.
    This group is an important workforce for the agricultural industry in Nicaragua, which is the
    main industry of the country’s economy. The focal point is their life experience as migrant labor
    being the primary research purpose is to provide an in-depth explanation about the labor
    migration phenomenon that is given during the coffee harvesting in Nicaragua. The reasons why
    these labors migrate, how is the migration experience and what are difficulties of the process,
    were explored. For the migration process, the pull and push theory was used as theoretical
    framework to analyze the influence it has on the coffee-pickers decisions to migrate. Notable
    challenges faced by these migrant labors as employees have been identified therefore the
    compliance of the labor employment practices code laws as well as the coffee harvesting
    employment regulations from the employers side were investigated, issues such as salary
    compliance, child labor in the workplace, accommodation, health security have been addressed.
    Qualitative techniques are the main method of inquiry; previous observation has been conducted
    by the researcher. For data collection the triangulation method has been used in order to gather
    different perspectives about this issue from three important sources. 10 experts and 6 employers
    have been in depth interviewed to collect data about coffee pickers’ migration process. In order
    to collect data from the 50 employees’ that were part of sample, a structured interview was
    conducted. The review of documentation has also been a vital source of information that helped
    the researcher to have a better understanding of the research topic and about this particular
    workforce. The results obtained have direct implications on the public sector and the role it plays
    in the coffee production, as well on the employers and their management of migrant workers and
    finally and most important for employees as an opportunity to express their satisfaction as coffee
    pickers and the law compliance from the employers.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract …………………………………………………………………………..………I Table of contents…………………………………………………………………..…..…II List of tables……………………………………………………………………….…….IV List of figures……………………………………………………………………….….....V CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION………………………………………….………..1 Background of the Study………………………………………………………….……1 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………….………...4 Purpose of the Study……………………………………………………….………......6 Research Questions…………………………………………………………………….6 Significance of the Study………………………………………………………..……..7 Definitions of Terms……………………………………………………………..….…7 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW……………...………………………......9 Push and Pull Migration Theory………………………………………………….........9 Seasonal Migrant Labor …………………………………………………………..….11 Coffee Harvest Season………………………………………………….…………….14 Nicaragua Employment practices code: relevant articles for coffee-pickers….….…. 18 CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODS………………………….……....…….29 Research Approach………………………………………………………….…….….29 Research Framework………………………………………………………………….30 Research Participants…………………………………………………………………31 Data Collection………………………………………………………………………..33 Data Analysis………………………………………………………………………....34 Research Procedure…………………………………………………………………...35 CHAPTER IV FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ………………………….…37 Employees perspective……………………………………………………...…………37 Migration motivations…………………………………………………………..……..48 Migration …………………………………………………………………………...…51 Migration difficulties……………………………………………………………….....55 Migration Consequences……………………………………………………………....59 Law Compliance…………………………………………………………………..…..64 Other findings…………………………………………………………………….…...76 Discussions…………………………………………………………………………....77 CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS……………..………..83 Research implications……………………………………………………………...…..85 Research Limitations…………………………………………………..……………...87 Suggestions for further study……………………………………………… ………..88 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………...89 APPENDIX A: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS……………..………………...…....93 APPENDIX B: STRUCTURED INTERVIEW……………………………….....97 APPENDIX C : THEMATIC CODING ……..…………………………….........105 APPENDIX D : IMAGES ……………………………………………………….....111 LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Push and Pull Factors………………………………………………………….9 Table 4.1 Migration Data…………………………………………………………….….8 Table 4.2 Migration Process……………………………………………………………..40 Table 4.3 Children presence in coffee farms ………………………………………...….42 Table 4.4 Employees’ satisfaction……………………………………………………….45 Table 4.5 Migration motivations…………………………………………………………48 Table 4.6 Perceptions about migration…………………………………………………..52 Table 4.7 Migration difficulties……………………………………...…………………..56 Table 4.8 Migration consequences…………...………………………………………….59 Table 4.9 Law compliance…......………………………………………………………..64 Table 4.10 Benefits for the employee………………………………...…………….80 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 Push and Pull Migration Process………………………………………….10 Figure 3.1 Research Framework…………………………………………………...….30 Figure 3.2 Triangulation research participants……………………..……32 Figure 3.3 Research Procedure……………………………………………………….36 Figure 5.1 Reasons why coffee pickers move………………………………………..85

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