International Labour Migration in the Asian‐Pacific Region: patterns, policies and economic implications*

Abstract

"This paper reviews the literature on international labour migration from and within the Asian-Pacific region. It deals with patterns and characteristics of migration flows, government policies towards labour migration, and economic implications of labour migration for both labour-exporting and importing countries in the region. The indications are that, despite gradual slowing down of labour flows to the western industrial countries and the Middle East, labour migration will continue to be a major economic influence on surplus-labour countries in the region. As an integral part of the growth dynamism in the region, labour migration has now begun to take on a regional dimension, with immense implications for the process of industrial restructuring in high growth economies and the changing pattern of economic interdependence among countries."

International Labour Migration Statistics in Asia: An Appraisal

“…There has been adramatic shift towards more restrictive entry regulations for migrant workers (and long-term settlers) in conventional labour-importing countries in Europe. At the same time, increasing employment opportunities for overseas workers in Japan and NICs are mostly open to illegal migrant workers, given the nature of the immigration practices in these countries (Athukorala, 1993). These labour market developments, combined with the astronomical expansion of travel for business and pleasure, have opened up ample opportunities for clandestine labour migration.…”

“…There is some evidence that clandestine migration (in particular "disguised" worker emigration in the form of workers emigrating as tourists, pilgrims, etc.) has gained increased importance with the opening of lucrative employment opportunities for foreigners in Japan and newly industrialized countries (NICs) in East Asia, and the imposition of restrictions on legal contract migrant workers in Europe in recent years (Athukorala, 1993). For instance, a significant increase in the involvement of immigrant workers from surplus-labour countries in the region has been reported for Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.…”

“…Bangladesh Indiab Indonesia Pakistan Philippines Sri Lanka' Thailand 197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993 16 23 25 31 56 63 59 57 78 69 74 68 102 104 147 188 245 4 23 69 172 236 276 240 225 206 163 114 125 170 127 144 118 417 323 2 3 8 10 16 20 21 29 38 57 64 63 61 72 97 126 130 43 141 131 126 130 168 143 128 100 89 63 70 85 99 116 147 196 158 48 70 88 137 215 266 314 434 425 389 415 497 478 523 599 702 550…”

“…Asian workers may now receive preference over nonnational Arabs such as Jordanians, Palestinians, Yemenis and Sudanese because their countries sided with Iraq in the war (Russell, 1992). Labour migration has also received further stimuli from the opening up of employment opportunities in Japan and high growth countries in East Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand) (Athukorala, 1993).…”

Outward Orientation and Economic Development in Malaysia

“…The annual average number of strikes in the manufacturing sector in the 1970s was five and this declined to three in the 1980s (Source: Ministry of Labour, Labour Indicators (annual, various issues)). 11 Growth in real wages would have presumably been much sharper had it not been for the massive influx of migrant workers since the late 1980s, first into the plantation sector and then into construction and more recently into manufacturing (Athukorala, 1993;and Pillai, 1995). According to official records, the number of migrant workers who had come through legal channels amounted to 650,000 by 1995, but the Finance Minister admitted in the 1996 Budget Speech that the total number (both legal and illegal workers) could be as high as two million (about 25 per cent of a local labour force of about eight million).…”