Website: http://www.metropolisasia.org/
The Metropolis Asia website aims to provide up-to-date research and information on migration especially in the Asia-Pacific region through the development of an interactive global information sharing tool. This Asia-focus website is a strategic venue to map out migration related issues as well as activities that need to receive appropriate research and policy attention at local, national and regional levels.
The website features a variety of resources (research reports, compilation of existing laws, policies and programmes, country reports, regional conferences) on emerging trends and issues on migration in Asia and the Pacific. It is hoped that the website will become a valuable tool for Asia-Pacific governments in designing and implementing policies related to migration by providing them with timely research and information and for academic institutions to define their research agendas in relation to trends in migration especially in Asia and the Pacific.
About Metropolis Asia
In 2005, Asia hosted 53 million out of the world’s 191 million migrants according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Intra-regional labour migration within Asia Pacific has increased since the late 1990s, driven by globalisation and disparities in labour demand and wage opportunities in the region. Rising labour mobility has shown positive impacts on employment, consumer spending and economic growth as migrant workers enhance the flow of remittances, trade and investment in the region. However, it can also be a source of social tensions.
While the majority of Asia Pacific migrants traditionally went to the West and the Middle East, the largest migration flows are now within the region. Migration within the Asia Pacific region is characterised by the rising movement of workers from one country to another on short-term contracts as the region’s labour markets have become more integrated.
There is also a growing number of Asian countries who become recipients of migrant flows and in the process affect immigration, labor and socio-economic policies as in the case of South Korea. Asian governments seek to strictly control migration and protect migrants’ rights as often as possible but the lack of a better understanding of concepts and related terms is hampering understanding between and among sending and receiving countries in Asia, the Pacific and other territories.
These issues confront the governments in countries within the Asia Pacific region where over half the world’s population lives. These changes in trends, profile of migrant flows and issues confronting Asia requires governments to work closely with the academe, international organizations and non-government organizations towards a holistic approach in addressing the various issues related to migration.
The main purpose of Metropolis Asia is to develop strategic responses to the effects of international migration build the capacities of partners in the Asia-Pacific region via information and data sharing. This will be achieved through the establishment of a virtual research network that gathers key resources.
Such a network would help to expedite the exchange of data and analysis and facilitate the sharing of information, latest news, laws, policy developments and emerging issues on migration. Access to the latest research and to extensive information on new researches, policies and programmes pertaining to migration in Asia and the Pacific will increase links to policy makers, with the aim to increase evidence-based policy planning and policy making.
The network aims to centralize relevant research and information and to offer a virtual space for exchange and learning. It intends to support and encourage coordination and cooperation between its stakeholders.
OBJECTIVES:
- To establish a framework for dialogue & cooperation among relevant national and international institutions in Asia/among academe, government, civil society, research and international organizations vis-à-vis international migration.
- To serve as a regional clearinghouse and venue for planning both on a short-term and long-term basis migration researches, policy studies and program/projects resulting from studies.
- To develop best practice models in action-research.
- To link research and policy at the local, national, regional and international levels.