Narrow Results

In the light of the social exclusion perspective, this paper discusses the indicators and different forms of social withdrawal experienced by young people in Hong Kong. The study examined the case records of 88 service users aged 13–24, and conducted 4 focus group interviews with a team of social workers involved in outreaching and reengaging the socially excluded users. Youth's personal agency exercised in their reaction to life events and crisis in the form of social withdrawal is arguably a complex social process, which is shaped, amongst other factors, by the hegemonic definition of youth trajectories and transitions to adulthood, and equally important by social exclusion at the institutional, cultural and relational levels. It is argued that both the structural and subjective dimensions of social withdrawal and reengagement work deserve critical examination in order not to further reproduce social inequalities and disadvantages.

This paper is concerned with the ideological dimension of the New Dawn project. It focuses on two analytical tasks. The first is to show that this project is not an independent reform measure. Instead it is a part of a series of pro-market welfare-to-work programmes launched by the Government to tackle social exclusion. The second is concerned with the debate on the desirability of this project in reducing social exclusion. As the design of this project is heavily indebted to market values, it is highly supported by those analysts and policy-makers who stress the importance of the labour market in helping socially excluded groups achieve social inclusion but it receives criticisms from those analysts who question the ability of the private market in tackling social exclusion. By carrying out these two tasks, the paper raises our awareness of the fact that whether people support the New Dawn project or not reflects not only their judgment on the effectiveness of this project in meeting the needs of single parents and carers on the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme but also their views on market ideologies.

本文通過對歐洲社會福利政策研究中社會排斥和社會融合取向的作用進行簡要的歷史回顧，並反思社會排斥為主的福利政策研究取向對中國福利政策研究的影響。通過對有關農民工社會福利制度現狀的研究文獻綜述，筆者發現，大多數的研究實際上都是取自社會排斥角度，在探討社會排斥研究模式可能在中國社會福利研究體系中可能存在的困難和不足，筆者提出重新整合社會排斥和社會融合的必要性。第一，整合社會融合的研究模式與中國政府提出的社會和諧目的相一致；第二，整合社會融合的研究模式凸顯社會資本在幫助農民工融入城市的重要作用，有利於減少社會因福利支出而增加的經濟負擔，容易為政府所接受；第三，整合社會融合的研究模式可以進一步促進福利主體間的合作，包括與政府的合作，市民社會之間的協作和融合等；第四，整合社會融合的研究模式有助於政策研究者有技巧和彈性地與政府溝通，有助於政策的落實與實現；最後，整合社會融合的研究模式有助於發展農民工在城市中的代言人，如社會工作者隊伍和 NGO 機構等。

This article begins with historical review on the roles of social exclusion and social inclusion in social welfare policy research in European area. And then critical reflect on the difficulties of social-exclusion-focused research model which domains the Chinese social welfare policy area. Basing on the literature review, through discussing on the current difficulties and insufficiencies of peasant workers' social welfare in China, the integrated model which should view social inclusion and social exclusion as one whole to be social welfare policy research model was proposed to meet the ultimate goal of social welfare policy. The importance of the integrated model was also discussed in the article as: First, integrating social inclusion perspective is consistent with the social harmony tenet which is highlighted by government; Second, integrating social inclusion perspective pays more attention on the functions of social capitals which may play an important role in facilitating peasant workers to adapt to urban cities, at the same time, social capitals may reduce the social welfare economic burden which can be easily accepted by government and facilitate the collaboration with government. Third, integrating social inclusion into social welfare policy research may facilitate the collaboration with government and reduce the tension between urban and rural. Forth, under the integrated model, social welfare policy researches may communicate with government flexibly and get more government support to make the policy realized; and finally, the agencies who can stand for the voices of peasant workers, such as social work team, NGO institutions can be developed rapidly.

With a focus on research conducted after Hong Kong reunited with China in 1997, this paper documents how the Nepalese immigrants living in Hong Kong processed their decision to either stay in Hong Kong or return to their home country. A review of 40 studies targeting Nepalese immigrants who chose to stay in Hong Kong found that these families were primarily influenced by: 1) their immigration history, including their roles as Gurkhas in the Hong Kong military and their contributions to the local labor force, and 2) their quality of living in Hong Kong versus Nepal. Among these 40 studies, only seven offered statistics with direct input from Nepalese research participants. Their responses show that the three different generations of Nepalese living in Hong Kong, while contributing to the cultural richness in Hong Kong, have experienced profound social exclusion. This article seeks to compile research findings to define issues facing Nepalese in Hong Kong and offers suggested solutions to the question: How can social workers help Nepalese in Hong Kong obtain economic and educational opportunities to enhance their quality of life? Implications for further research and social service interventions are explored with attention to social inclusion and promoting higher education opportunities.

This study aims to identify the key determinants of the level of informalization of micro-enterprises in Nigeria. We seek to understand the motives of entrepreneurs doing business in different segments of the informal sector and to clarify further the relationship between formal and informal economic activity. To fill the research gap, we developed a theoretical framework that focuses on a decision matrix regarding the level of informality. The quantitative approach involved a sample of 120 entrepreneurs operating in the Nigerian informal economy. Our results show that institutional constraints significantly affect the decision to engage in the informal sector. The institutional constraint is related to ambiguity in tax assessment and business registration policies and procedures, including the mismanagement of those in power. We conclude that the presence of informal firms is not always as harmful as it sometimes is considered to be.

This article examines the legal framework regulating unskilled and low-skilled migrant workers in Singapore. It argues that the current legal framework discriminates against these migrant workers and conceptualizes them as undesirable for inclusion in the wider society. This, it is contended, is premised on the assumption that migrant workers could be sequestered from the local population to some extent. This article provides some challenges to this assumption, highlighting instead some of the broader social and political consequences of this exclusionary legal framework. Consequently, it is argued that a more inclusive and integrationist approach is needed, and some positive developments are highlighted.