In the fast developing economies of Asia migration has come to
play an important role. However. It has also remained opposed by public
opinion and workers organizations, who consider migrants detrimental to
the employment opportunities and working conditions of local workers.
The crisis, which sent some Asian economies into recession and caused
widespread social costs, had a specific impact on migration. A large
number of migrants were repatriated, others had la endure wage curs and
worsening of labor conditions. This paper argues that because of the
structural role that migration has acquired in Asian economies, it should be
part of the workers organization concerns and of a regional dialogue by
migrants to ensure that it is orderly and protected.