E.g., 06/28/2023
E.g., 06/28/2023
Asia and the Pacific

Asia and the Pacific

Asia has a disproportionate share of the world’s young, working-age population—which represents the most mobile cohort—with resulting major immigration flows to other regions, and increasing intraregional migration as demographic transitions occur at different levels within Asia. The research here focuses on how the labor-sending countries of the region, notably the Philippines and other Colombo Process countries, manage these migration flows and the recruitment process. It also examines other conditions affecting the region, including humanitarian protection challenges, climate migration, diaspora relations, and remittances.

World map with small planes and major city names
Reports

Using Risk Analysis to Shape Border Management: A Review of Approaches during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Although nearly all countries adopted travel measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, national approaches have varied considerably and often been controversial. In many cases, decisionmakers failed to clearly communicate the rationale for using certain measures. This report looks at how governments and international organizations approached travel-related risk analysis, and what it would take to do this more strategically in future public-health emergencies.

Migrant workers at a textile factory in Jordan
Policy Briefs

Reassessing Recruitment Costs in a Changing World of Labor Migration

Migrant workers can pay a range of costs when they are recruited and relocate for jobs abroad, accruing significant debt. While many countries, international organizations, and other stakeholders have sought to reduce or eliminate recruitment costs, the pandemic has exacerbated and added to these expenses. This policy brief explores how the costs migrant workers face have changed, and what these developments mean for efforts to promote fair and ethical recruitment.

People pulling vehicles from a flooded road in an Afghan village
Articles

Climate Change Compounds Longstanding Displacement in Afghanistan

Climate change is compounding the drivers of displacement and international migration in Afghanistan, which has one of world's largest populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs). This article examines the climate and environmental linkages to displacement and migration, as well as the policy approaches taken by the Taliban and predecessor governments, particularly as they relate to water resources management.

Recent Activity

Articles
February 20, 2013
The Opening of Burmese Borders: Impacts on Migration
By Nora McGann
Articles
December 1, 2012
Major Immigration Countries Take a Crack at Addressing Thorny Issue of Immigrant Detention
By MPI
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Policy Briefs
November 2012
Engaging the Asian Diaspora
By  Dovelyn Rannveig Mendoza and Kathleen Newland
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Policy Briefs
October 2012
Thailand at a Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities in Leveraging Migration for Development
By  Jerry Huguet, Aphichat Chamratrithirong and Claudia Natali
Cover_IOM5_thumb
Policy Briefs
September 2012
Strengthening Pre-Departure Orientation Programmes in Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines
By  Maruja M.B. Asis and Dovelyn Rannveig Mendoza
MPI event two panelists speaking
Multimedia
August 30, 2012
Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor
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Policy Briefs
August 2012
Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor
By  Dovelyn Rannveig Mendoza
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Multimedia
July 11, 2012
MPI/IOM Panel Discussion and Asia-Pacific Launch of Developing a Road Map for Engaging Diasporas in Development

Pages

Top Ten
December 3, 2007
South Korea Opens Its Arms

Sensitive to having too many outsiders, prosperous Asian countries generally have relied on temporary worker programs — with few rights for migrants — to fill gaps in their labor markets. With its historically diverse population, Singapore is the main exception as it sees migrants as a demographic necessity and courts highly skilled migrants.

Top Ten
December 3, 2007
Testing Immigrants — Literally

Prove you can fit in here. That is the challenge many countries placed in stark terms this year by implementing citizenship tests or increasing language requirements. In the case of Australia, the government decided to do both.

Profile
April 1, 2007
Indonesia's Labor Looks Abroad

A classic labor-surplus nation, Indonesia sends thousands of low-skilled workers every year to countries in the Middle East and elsewhere in Asia, particularly neighboring Malaysia. Graeme Hugo of the University of Adelaide provides an updated look at this and other migration trends in the world's fourth most populous country.

Feature
February 1, 2007
The Rise in Remittances to India: A Closer Look

India receives more remittances than any other country in the world. MPI's Muzaffar Chishti explores the factors responsible for remittance growth in the last 15 years.

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Profile
January 1, 2007
Singapore: Hungry for Foreign Workers at All Skill Levels
Historically a diverse country, Singapore since the 1980s has become a top destination for Asian and Western professionals as well as low-skilled migrants from across the region. Brenda S.A. Yeoh of the National University of Singapore reports.

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Recent Activity

Articles
February 20, 2013

The Opening of Burmese Borders: Impacts on Migration

Burma, a resources-rich yet impoverished nation also known as Myanmar, rejoined the international community in 2011 after a military junta loosened its grip. Before the Southeast Asian nation opened its borders, Burmese migrated primarily for low-paid, clandestine work in Thailand but also as a result of violence and natural disasters. This article explores how the country’s recent transition has impacted Burmese migration flows.

Articles
December 1, 2012

Major Immigration Countries Take a Crack at Addressing Thorny Issue of Immigrant Detention

The U.S. and Australian governments have long grappled with unwanted entries by unauthorized migrants and would-be asylum seekers. Both nations undertook efforts in 2012 to reform immigration detention policies and procedures that have generated significant scrutiny and criticism.

Policy Briefs
November 2012

Engaging the Asian Diaspora

This brief explores how governments in Asia are facilitating diaspora contributions, including creation of conducive legal frameworks and diaspora-centered institutions to initiation of programs that specifically target diasporas as development actors.

Policy Briefs
October 2012

Thailand at a Crossroads: Challenges and Opportunities in Leveraging Migration for Development

Thailand is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of migration. This brief examines the country’s migration challenges and two basic approaches to regularizing labor migration: Memoranda of Understanding with migrant-sending neighbors and nationality verification as a preliminary step for work permit application by unauthorized immigrants.

Policy Briefs
September 2012

Strengthening Pre-Departure Orientation Programmes in Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines

Predeparture orientation programs have emerged as an important tool for the protection of migrant workers for a number of Asian states. This brief examines the strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement of this intervention.

Audio
August 30, 2012

Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor

This joint Migration Policy Institute and International Organization for Migration event marks the Issue brief launch of Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor.

Policy Briefs
August 2012

Regulating Private Recruitment in the Asia-Middle East Labour Migration Corridor

This issue brief examines Asian labor migration to the Middle East—a region distinguished by its major dependence on migrant workers, the overwhelming majority from Asia. The author focuses on the role of private recruiting agencies as key facilitators of temporary labor migration and perpetrators of exploitative practices.

Articles
July 11, 2012

Australia's Boat People: Asylum Challenges and Two Decades of Policy Experimentation

For two decades, Australia has experimented with different asylum policies in response to an increase in refugees and asylum seekers entering the country. A look at the country's challenges in managing a hotly contested political and public debate.

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