Exploring the Links Between Labour Migration from India to the Gulf Countries and South-East Asia
摘要
Drawing on an extensive review of official datasets, migration surveys and secondary scholarship, this chapter maps the contemporary landscape of Indian labour migration to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and to the two principal South-East Asian destinations, Malaysia and Singapore. It first situates India within wider South-South mobility systems, showing how differential growth trajectories in Asia have produced a predominantly low- and semi-skilled, circular flow of workers. The analysis then disaggregates this flow by Indian state of origin, revealing the historical dominance of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the recent surge from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and the continued under-documentation of populous northern and central states. Besides, this chapter traces evolving destination demand, gendered occupational niches, migration costs and the critical macro- and micro-economic role of remittances. A comparative section highlights similarities and contrasts between the India–Gulf and India–Malaysia/Singapore corridors in terms of recruitment regimes, legality, possibility of settlement and political participation. Persistent research gaps are identified around female migrants, domestic workers, indebtedness and post-COVID labour-market restructuring. The chapter concludes by underscoring the need for richer state-level evidence and for comparative, gender-sensitive approaches capable of informing bilateral agreements and safeguarding migrant welfare across these corridors.