ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies the impact of the on-going global recession on migrant workers in East Asia whose movement and mobility are deeply embedded in East Asians regional development today. It describes that migration is an essential aspect of the regional integration of East Asia and its emergence as a centre of global capitalism. The chapter discusses how the global economic crisis has affected East Asia, and triggered warnings of an impending crisis of migration. It puts this situation in historical context, highlighting the central role of migration in East Asian development over the last century, across a range of sectors and national economies. The chapter demonstrates the impact of the global economic crisis on migration, showing that it is less significant or prolonged than one might expect, or government rhetoric suggests. It outlines the role of the global economic crisis in the development of migrant workers activism.
