The Local Politics of Belonging and Municipal Responses to Irregular Migration and Informal Employment

Abstract

Irregular migration represents a growing challenge for urban centers in developing countries, where returned migrants often enter informal labor markets without legal protections. This study explores the experiences of irregular migrants who returned from Turkey and Iran to Quetta, Balochistan, focusing on their integration into informal employment and the municipal responses to irregular labor. The research aims to examine social stratification and power hierarchies in the informal economy, documenting how ethnicity, gender, and legal status shape exploitation and negotiation processes. Employing a qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 14 participants who had previously worked as irregular migrants abroad and returned to Quetta. Thematic analysis identified four primary themes: structural precarity and labor exploitation, strategies of negotiation and agency, ethnic and gendered hierarchies in informal employment, and the political economy of shadow labor markets. Participants described navigating precarious work environments, resisting extreme exploitation, and asserting agency within constrained circumstances. Findings indicate that informal labor markets reproduce existing social hierarchies, with employers and intermediaries benefiting from cheap, disposable labor. Municipal responses were found to be inconsistent, reflecting gaps in regulatory capacity and political attention. This study highlights the intersection of migration, informal labor, and urban governance, offering insights into the socio-political mechanisms that shape belonging and marginalization in Quetta. By documenting the lived experiences of returned irregular migrants, the study contributes to broader debates on migration governance, urban labor politics, and the ethical responsibilities of municipalities in managing informal economies.