‘I found my peace’: How Filipino and Thai migrants made Greenland home
Greenland's labour shortages have created an unlikely migration corridor from Southeast Asia. In part two of this series, CNA looks at how Filipinos and Thais have become the island's largest communities.
Greenland's labour shortages have allowed for an unexpected migration corridor from Southeast Asia, with Filipinos and Thais becoming the island's largest communities. In Sisimiut, Greenland's second largest city and oldest continuously inhabited settlement, a group of Filipinos now enjoys the slower pace of life, appreciating the outdoors with their children.
The allure of the landscape is complemented by the economic opportunities in various sectors such as supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, fisheries, and health facilities. Workers from Southeast Asia now make up about 12-13% of the territory's workforce, as the economy relies heavily on foreign labour. Greenland's growing tourism, service, mining, and energy sectors require a constant influx of workers, driving the need for such migration.
Families are often the link between migrants, with relatives securing work permits and facilitating family reunification. The average Asian worker in Greenland earns significantly more than in their home countries, making it an attractive proposition for those seeking a better life.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
