The paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent international labour migration trends in South Asia and its associated challenges. In addition, it reviews national policies, illustrates the role of international instruments, and highlights some good practices in the sub-region. By outlining the economic and migration profiles of South Asian countries, particularly, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the paper underscores some salient features of migration in the sub-region: increasing outflows to the Gulf and Middle East countries, high concentration of temporary labour migrants who are mostly semi-skilled and low-skilled, rising importance of female migration; prevalence of trafficking in human beings and smuggling of persons, and commercialisation of the recruitment industry.

Wickramasekara, P. 2011. International Migration Paper No. 108, Geneva: International Labour Organization.