Pandemic worsens human trafficking in South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Forced Labour ◽  
Tier 3 ◽  
Watch List

Significance Malaysia was downgraded to ‘Tier 3’ -- the lowest category -- over alleged forced labour involving migrant workers in some of its plantations and factories. Thailand was demoted to the ‘Tier 2 Watch List’ due to concerns about exploitation in its fishing and agriculture industries. Impacts Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore will remain key destinations for trafficked workers despite ongoing travel restrictions. Post-coup instability in Myanmar will likely promote an increase in illegal outbound border crossings. Cross-border movement of unvaccinated forced migrants could fuel fresh coronavirus outbreaks throughout the region.

Fintech growth outpaces regulation in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Growth

Significance E-payment transaction volumes have risen dramatically as more people shop online and embrace non-cash payments. Moreover, fintechs are expanding into new segments of the financial services market such as crowdfunding and insurance. The future growth and resilience of this ecosystem depend on updating the regulatory and data protections framework, which is underway. Impacts Legislation on cross-institution and cross-border data sharing would be crucial to boost public confidence in fintechs. Continued growth of fintechs will increase the demand for cybersecurity services. Tier 2 cities will become increasingly important digital markets.

Water difficulties set to worsen in ASEAN

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Water Politics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Popular Pressure ◽  
Asean Countries

Subject Water management in South-east Asia. Significance ASEAN countries face growing demands for better water management, following the region's worst drought in decades quickly followed by flooding. Without increased investment in water storage and flood mitigation systems, economic losses will rise, but most governments give the sector a low budget priority. Impacts The contentiousness of water politics in the Mekong sub-region could make reaching cross-border solutions difficult. Switching to crops that need less water may change land use and reshape national agriculture sectors. Popular pressure on governments will rise for water resource management improvements.

South-east Asian microfinance will grow despite risks

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
East Asia ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Recession ◽  
Monetary Authorities ◽  
Forced Labour

Subject Microfinance in Cambodia and other South-east Asian countries. Significance A report published last month by two human rights groups in Cambodia said microfinance debts have increased hardship for borrowers in the country. Meanwhile, a global economic slowdown is prompting monetary authorities in South-east Asia and beyond to cut interest rates. Impacts Debts associated with microfinance could make borrowers more vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labour. With their limited resources, micro-borrowers will be more exposed than most in the event of a global recession. Countries in South-east Asia and beyond will come under pressure to increase oversight of their microfinance sectors.

Fears of Ebola spread in East Africa will grow

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
East Africa ◽  
South Sudan ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Regional Tourism ◽  
Travel Restrictions

Significance On July 2, health officials also confirmed a new case in Ariwara, Ituri Province, a major cross-border trading centre some 35 kilometres from Arua, Uganda, and 70 kilometres from the South Sudan border. Though both cases are for now isolated, they underscore the rising risk that the DRC’s worsening Ebola crisis could soon affect its neighbours. Impacts Declaration of a public health emergency of international concern would create a risk of countries imposing trade or travel restrictions. Even now, the epidemic may severely impact regional tourism; Rwanda is particularly vulnerable, as tourism accounts for around 13% of GDP. Countries further afield also face risks but may focus less attention on preparedness.

South-east Asia will remain reliant on foreign labour

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Migrant ◽  
Foreign Labour ◽  
Return Home

Subject Impact of COVID-19 on South-east Asia's labour flows. Significance While South-east Asian publics have struggled under the constraints of COVID-19 lockdowns, outbreaks of the disease among foreign labourers have prompted an increase in xenophobia. The region’s governments are coming under pressure to reduce labour migration from abroad. Impacts Testing of foreign workers for COVID-19 will accelerate in several South-east Asian countries. Human trafficking will increase as undocumented foreign workers use illegal channels to return home. In many of the region's countries, unemployment could rise among internal migrant workers as well as foreign labourers.

scholarly journals Negotiated Agency amidst Overlapping Vulnerabilities of Women Migrant Workers in South Asia

Social Change ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananya Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
South Asia ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Undocumented Migrants ◽  
Migrant Women ◽  
Women Migrants ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Internal Migrants ◽  
Forced Labour ◽  
Experiences Of Women

Marriage, family reunification, forced labour and trafficking are some of the most widely attributed causes of women’s migration within South Asia. This paper contributes to a small but growing literature about women’s migration within South Asia for employment amidst social, cultural and policy level barriers that hinder women’s mobility choices. It examines the experiences of 45 migrant women from economically poorer backgrounds comprising both cross-border, undocumented migrants from Nepal and Bangladesh and internal migrants from India working in informal jobs within India. This paper also explores similarities and differences between migration and labour market experiences of women migrants in South Asia showing how migration for employment can contribute towards agency formation but at the same time increase vulnerability by bringing about a reduction in well-being, security and dignity in the absence of secure policies that address challenges of women migrants in the region.

scholarly journals Direction of luxury fashion retailers' post-entry expansion – the evidence from China

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huifeng Bai ◽  
Julie McColl ◽  
Christopher Moore ◽  
Weijing He ◽  
Jin Shi
Keyword(s):  
Local Market ◽  
Tier 2 ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tier System ◽  
Brick And Mortar ◽  
International Retailing ◽  
Post Entry ◽  
Tier 3 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Initial Entry

PurposeThis empirical study, from the international retailing perspective, examines the direction of retailers' further expansion after initial entry into overseas host market in the context of the luxury fashion retail market in China.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts qualitative multiple case studies.FindingsAfter initial entry into China, luxury fashion retailers further expand their retail operations through three directional patterns: cautious, regional and countrywide expansions. The stepwise expansion from tier-1 to tier-2 and tier-3 cities remains popular; however, the importance of the tier system of Chinese cities has been weakened because tier-3 cities in affluent regions are perceived to have more potential than some tier-2 cities in less developed regions. The retailers assess a potential local market through interrelated criteria, including location and strategic importance, economic development, available store locations and staff, a high degree of urbanisation and tourism, debatable favourable policies and offers, and popularity of e- and m-commerce. There is a positive relationship between popularity of e- and m-commerce in a city and the potential of that city to run brick-and-mortar stores.Originality/valueThe paper offers an insight into the current international retailing literature by examining the direction of luxury fashion retailers' further expansion after their initial market entry. Particularly, the research considers a set of criteria which can be used to assess a potential local market, and the impact of e- and m-commerce on local market choices for brick-and-mortar stores.

ASEAN cyber insurance demand will grow

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cyber Security ◽  
Public Information ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
Cyber Insurance ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Regional Partnerships

Subject The outlook for cyber crime, business and ASEAN integration. Significance On January 27, Singapore announced that its new Cyber Security Agency will become active in April. Designed to strengthen national cyber defence capacity, the agency will also work with businesses to improve their preparedness. South-east Asia is rated the world's riskiest region for internet users, but most regional businesses have inadequate cyber defences. Governments are responding with legislation, but in many cases their ability to enforce these laws is questionable. The scale of the threat will escalate as economies become more digitalised and ASEAN pursues closer financial and trade links. Impacts Targeted public information campaigns are needed to develop cyber security awareness. Additional investment will be needed in network security to stem mounting losses for business. Conflicting legal frameworks and lack of regional partnerships impede investigation of cross-border crimes.

ASEAN politicised anti-graft efforts may mar business

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Integration ◽  
Political Corruption ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
Presidential Transition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Asean Economic Community

Subject The outlook for anti-corruption frameworks in South-east Asia and ASEAN. Significance Over the last two decades, national anti-corruption commissions in the ASEAN-core countries -- Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines -- have become more powerful and capable of coordinating high-profile anti-corruption campaigns against those holding public office. However, such efforts have in some cases become intensely politicised, and some national commissions have struggled to remain autonomous. This will affect governance and business, especially with ASEAN integrating and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) coming in late 2015. Impacts With elections delayed to late 2016, further corruption probes of Thai opposition figures are likely. Indonesia's anti-corruption commission faces a battle to protect its autonomy, and may see its capacity hindered. The Philippines' presidential transition in mid-2016 will determine the ongoing success of the current anti-corruption drive. Malaysia's anti-corruption commission may gain institutional strength through the '1MDB' investigation. Deepening ASEAN economic integration could increase cross-border and domestic opportunities for political corruption.

Adult forced labour in Uzbekistan cotton may grow

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Government Employees ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cotton Industry ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Forced Labour ◽  
Radio Free Europe ◽  
Regional Authorities

Subject Uzbekistan cotton Significance Regional authorities in Samarkand Province have started ordering wedding venues to cancel celebrations until the cotton harvest is completed, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Uzbek Service. Pensioners, students and government employees are reportedly being sent to pick the crop. The increasing use of adults appears to be a result of attempts by President Islam Karimov's regime to be seen to be keeping children out of the cotton fields. Cotton is a crucial source or revenue for Uzbekistan. As remittance payments from migrant workers in Russia fall and hydrocarbons prices remain low, the crop's importance will grow. Impacts Education and healthcare will suffer up to the end of the cotton season in November as students and doctors are forced to pick the crop. United States upgrading of Uzbekistan's status on human trafficking risks decreasing pressure on Tashkent to reform further. Continual reliance on cotton industry will worsen water tensions between Uzbekistan and other Central Asian states.

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