Cultural Adaptation by Bangladeshi Migrant Workers in Sarawak, Malaysia: An Empirical Study

Abstract

<jats:p>Cultural adaptation occurs in a wide range of socio-cultural contexts which describe the acquisition of skills and knowledge. The aim of the study was to assess the process of cultural adaptation by the Bangladeshi workers in Sarawak and to compare it with their own culture. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the Bangladeshi migrant workers in the selected districts in Sarawak. A total of 314 Bangladeshi workers were successfully interviewed using structured questionnaire. Data were collected by face-to-face interview. Data analysis was done by IBM SPSS version 22.0. Data analysis was done in three domains of cultural adaptation which was language adaptation, cultural behaviour and cultural knowledge using 22 items of question. Analysis revealed that language adaptation was quick and sustained which accounted for 53%, while, gaining cultural knowledge was 24% and cultural behaviour was 21%. Overall, 34% adapt local culture of the country of destination and 67% practiced their own culture and the difference was statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that nature of job, income, mode of payment, marital status and health insurance appeared to be important motivating factors for cultural adaptation in Malaysia (p&lt;0.05). The findings suggest that Bangladeshi migrant workers are integrating into Malaysian society, keeping uphold their own culture. Though this study did not depict the overall scenarios, a cross-cultural issues with a rigorous working framework are warranted to get more in-depth cultural adaptation and process among the migrant workers in the country of destination.</jats:p>

Impacts of social remittances on economic activities: labour migration from a village of Bangladesh to Malaysia

“…Froese et al (2012) divides socio-cultural dimensions into three and explains that Bangladeshi workers somehow can adjust with general (non-work) dimensions but they encounter problems with work and interaction dimensions (cf. see Rahman et al, 2019). On the other hand, 70% of Indonesian migrant workers claim a 'good' relationship with the local communities in terms of their ability to get together and talk to the Malaysia neighbours and friends at the work place and also at the residential areas.…”

Behind a Masculine Space: The Experiences of Women in Male-Dominated Environments in the State of Qatar

“…Being in a different country brings new experiences, opportunities, and a modern workplace, which means that each person surrounding various familiar and unfamiliar cultures enables one to gain new knowledge. It uses new culture to slowly acclimate to their everyday life in another country (Rahman et al, 2019). As a result, it is crucial for employees working in a different country since they will presumably stay in their host country for an extended period.…”

“…They are making it necessary for workers to be skilled in the host country's language, or even just English. It may vary for workers' positions since there are positions wherein they need to learn the local language to interact with their co-workers (Rahman et al, 2019). There also might be some positions wherein they must learn English, which may aid them in communicating with other nationalities (Rahman et al, 2019).…”

“…It may vary for workers' positions since there are positions wherein they need to learn the local language to interact with their co-workers (Rahman et al, 2019). There also might be some positions wherein they must learn English, which may aid them in communicating with other nationalities (Rahman et al, 2019). When individuals who share in unfamiliar cultural environments do not know others' communication behavior, they give meaning to others' attitudes and behavior according to their cultural norms.…”

Life experiences and cultural adaptation among migrant workers in Malaysia

“…In doing so, this study focuses on examining factors contributing to cultural adaptation among migrant workers, with the overarching assumption that cultural adaptation shapes and influences migrants' life experiences and employment conditions in Malaysia. For clarity, this study defines culture as the set of shared attitudes, values, social forms, and customary beliefs, in which a particular group of community learns and transmits to future generations (see Rahman et al, 2019). In many existing pieces of literature, cultural adaptation is referred to as a process of adapting and assimilating into a new culture over time in order to carry out the person's daily life (Sarker, 2016).…”