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South Asian migration is diversifying, shifting from Gulf labor flows to skilled migration and regional movements, requiring a broader understanding of its challenges and impacts.

The South Asian-Gulf migration corridor has emerged as one of the most vibrant migratory pathways in the world. While this historical trend remains strong, recent decades have witnessed a significant diversification in migration flows from South Asia: students and skilled workers have been increasingly moving towards Europe, North America, and other advanced economies shifting away from the traditional pattern of low-skilled labour migration to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Additionally, migration patterns are also characterized by significant regional movements within South Asia. Beyond these patterns, understanding South Asian migration requires a multidimensional approach that examines critical issues such as the causes and consequences of migration, vulnerabilities in recruitment processes, gender dynamics and experiences, and the challenges of migrants’ return and reintegration.

Migration from South Asia is driven by various factors such as unemployment, underemployment, low per capita income, debt accumulation, and other financial pressures. Distress migration and climate change also play significant roles in migration corridors within South Asia, such as the ones from Bangladesh to India and  from Afghanistan to Pakistan. 

The political and economic conditions of the destination countries further shape the direction and composition of migration flows. For instance, factors such as oil prices, economic growth, and labour demand in the GCC countries have made the region a preferred destination for South Asian migrants. However, in recent times, nationalization policies and stricter implementation of immigration regulations have drastically affected the recruitment process in the region.

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