Labour Migration as a Complementary Pathways for Refugees in the Asia-Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, asylum seekers and displaced persons have extensively been preyed on by migrant smugglers and human traffickers. Hence, there is a critical need to find safe and legitimate course of actions to move asylum seekers and displaced persons. Labour migration could be used as a method to ensure shelter for refugees. However, refugees would need to possess skills that are sought after in the host country.

 

This research examines contemporary labour migration frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region and investigates the possibilities for the integration of humanitarian migrants who may otherwise become victims of migrant smugglers or human traffickers. Migration and asylum data from the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation and Bali Process member states are looked into to determine the current condition on labour migration. This paper also analyses national legislation, diverse visa programmes and bilateral agreements to comprehend how labour migration in the region are executed by the States.

 

Six countries are chosen to pinpoint a few of the particular features and problems that exist in employing labour migration as a different route for asylum seekers. Countries such as the Philippines and Myanmar are identified as migrant-sending countries, while Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia as sending and receiving countries, and New Zealand as a migrant-hosting country. This working paper concludes that the current labour migration status is insufficient as a viable solution for asylum seekers, unless more protective measures are implemented. Nevertheless, a cross humanitarian and economic migration pathway could be expanded on with the intention of prioritising vulnerable humanitarian migrants before their employability. On this matter, Australia is suited to head the dialogue on refugees and migrants through the Bali Process and the Global Compacts.