Irregular Migration in Southeast Asia

This book investigates the complex factors that drive migration, barriers to regular channel migration and regularization, and difficulties in accessing healthcare services in Southeast Asia. Taking Myanmar’s irregular migrant workers in Thailand as a case study, it seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the complex factors that drive migration in Southeast Asia by exploring economic, political, and social push factors. It then moves to examine the multifaceted barriers that hinder regular channel migration to Thailand, including financial hardship, lengthy procedures, multifaceted difficulties in obtaining passport and paperwork, the influence of social networks and informal brokers, government official corruption, and exploitation by agencies targeting prospective migrant workers. It sets itself above the existing literature by adopting a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, combining rigorous research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and firsthand accounts of both migrant workers themselves and numerous other stakeholders throughout the process. This socio-ecological perspective allows for a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by migrant workers to be developed, and to inform practical recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and advocates. As such, it offers a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, NGO workers, and advocates striving to create a more equitable society, and with interests in migration, Southeast Asia, healthcare, and social policy.