The late twentieth century socio-economic transition in Asia has resulted in large-scale migration of rural masses to urban industrial areas in search of their livelihood. However, a complete lack of institutional support, uncertain work tenure, dismal conditions at the workplace, and long working hours along with low wages have interminably forced these migrants' return to their places of origin, turning 'labour migration' into 'labour circulation'. Based on extensive fieldwork in India, China, and Indonesia, Jan Breman argues that the increasing work saturation in the informal sector, the intolerance of the urban population towards the poor, and the apathy of policymakers have ensured that these masses are perpetually trapped in this predicament. Bringing the loss of rural livelihoods and vicissitudes of forced migration into sharper focus, this book should be indispensable reading for students and researchers of sociology, economics, anthropology, and development and labour studies, as also policymakers and practitioners. Book jacket.