Women working away: female labour migration in Asia and the Pacific

This paper reviews research on women from the Asia-Pacific region who migrate internationally to work. It identifies and briefly explores four key areas of concern that emerge from a review of this literature: the migration decision-making process for women and their households; working conditions for female international labour migrants; the importance of remittances sent to family members at home; and overall assessments of the impacts of labour migration on women and their families. Drawing on published research across several countries, this paper considers these issues and identifies patterns in the experience of migrant women workers, as well as areas requiring further research.