South and South West Asia
 Migration Issues Every year, over 1.5 million workers migrate abroad from South Asia alone, mostly to the Gulf region to perform low-skilled, temporary work. In the labour migration context, all countries in the region are major countries of origin, while India and Pakistan are also classified as countries of destination and transit. Migration from South Asia to Europe is mostly composed of high-skilled migrants. Due to porous borders in the region, there is also a trend of irregular, undocumented movements. As the impacts of the global financial crisis begin to be witnessed across South and South-West Asia, avenues for regular means of migration are likely to decrease, which can lead potential migrants to perceive irregular means as an easier option despite the risks involved. With pressures on the local economy and job market in destination countries, the global economic slowdown is leading to job cuts or restricted recruitment for foreign workers. This is prompting governments in South and South-West Asia to develop strategies for coping with the immediate effects of the global recession, as well as exploring longer-term support for the rehabilitation of affected workers. Additionally, there is a large number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) migrating within their own country due to conflict, rural- urban disparities and/or environmental factors. |
