Migration patterns and policies in the Asian and Pacific region

Abstract

Migration has become an important social phenomenon in Asia, with firmly established patterns across the region. The document examines key trends, including a 44% increase in annual labor migration since 1990, involving at least 2 million workers annually. It highlights the entrenched system of labor recruitment and the increasing feminization of migration flows. Unauthorized migration is identified as a significant challenge, driven by policies that fail to balance labor demand and migration pressures. The document calls attention to critical issues such as smuggling, human trafficking—especially of women and children—and the structural deficiencies in migration policies, which are often unilateral rather than bilateral or regional in approach.