Irregular Migration in Southeast Asia: Contemporary Barriers to Regularization and Healthcare

— —

Tual Sawn Khai

Irregular Migration in Southeast Asia

Contemporary Barriers to Regularization and Healthcare

Tual Sawn Khai

$398.95 $319.42

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Routledge
07 November 2025

Illness & addiction: social aspects; Migration, immigration & emigration; Sociology; Personal & public health; Medical sociology

This book investigates the complex factors that drive migration, barriers to regular channel migration and regularization, and difficulties in accessing healthcare services in Southeast Asia. Taking Myanmar’s irregular migrant workers in Thailand as a case study, it seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the complex factors that drive migration in Southeast Asia by exploring economic, political, and social push factors. It then moves to examine the multifaceted barriers that hinder regular channel migration to Thailand, including financial hardship, lengthy procedures, multifaceted difficulties in obtaining passport and paperwork, the influence of social networks and informal brokers, government official corruption, and exploitation by agencies targeting prospective migrant workers. It sets itself above the existing literature by adopting a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach, combining rigorous research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and firsthand accounts of both migrant workers themselves and numerous other stakeholders throughout the process. This socio-ecological perspective allows for a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by migrant workers to be developed, and to inform practical recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and advocates. As such, it offers a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, NGO workers, and advocates striving to create a more equitable society, and with interests in migration, Southeast Asia, healthcare, and social policy.

By: Tual Sawn Khai
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 570g
ISBN: 9781041124177
ISBN 10: 1041124171
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 07 November 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Myanmar's Labor Migration Management: Policies, Practices, and Disruptions (1999-2025) Chapter 3: Thailand's Migrant Worker Health Insurance Schemes and Regularization Strategies of Irregular migrant workers (1992-2025) Chapter 4: Reconceptualizing Migration Theory: The Interplay of irregular migration and Regularization Chapter 5: Theoretical and methodological approach Chapter 6: Factors influencing migration and decision marking Chapter 7: Socio-Ecological Factors Influencing Irregular Migration from Myanmar to Thailand Chapter 8: Why Regular Migrants Become Irregular: A Socio-Ecological Analysis of Myanmar Workers in Thailand Chapter 9: Socio-ecological barriers to registration for regular status among irregular migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand Chapter 10: Socio-ecological Barriers to Healthcare Access for Myanmar Irregular Migrant Workers in Thailand Chapter 11: Conclusion and Recommendations

Tual Sawn Khai is RGC Postdoctoral Fellow at Lingnan University, Hong Kong, where he earned his PhD in Sociology and Social Policy. Currently, he is also a visiting fellow at the Australian National University and a research affiliate of the Refugee Law Initiative at the University of London. He was a visiting research fellow at the University of Melbourne and a visiting PhD fellow at the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) in Malaysia. His research focuses on the health and well-being of migrants, refugees, IDPs, conflict, humanitarian aid, statelessness, and climate change. His work appears in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Migration and Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Archives of Public Health, Frontiers in Public Health, International Journal of Social Welfare, Disability and Society, Journal of Burmese Studies, and Global Public Health. He is the co-author of “Japan’s Humanitarian Aid toward Myanmar after the 2021 Coup” SpringerBriefs in International Relations (SBIR).