The research paper "examines the characteristics of migration in southeast Asia, the ways in which people trafficking occurs within this process and the implications for Australia's anti-trafficking response nationally and regionally. It is based on a literature review, along with information from interviews conducted with prosecutors, law enforcement officers, policy officers and representatives of non-government and international organisations in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia."

It sets out issues and trends in the region as well as push and pull factors of migration. Further, the main characteristics of labour migration is presented, such as the feminization of migration and undocumented movements. The author then reviews statistics, issues and trends in people trafficking and finally relates this to implications for Australia.