ASEAN labor ministers to protect rights of migrant workers

Association of Southeast Asian Nations labor ministers have renewed their commitment to uphold decent work and agreed to convene the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers to develop the instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday that the 20th ASEAN Labor Ministers Meeting or ALMM also approved the recommendation to convene the first meeting of the ASEAN committee on the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers before the 14th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in December.

The Committee will also oversee the institutionalization and regular convening of the ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor as a venue where broad-based issues on labor migration can be discussed.

The 20th ALMM was held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 8 with the theme “Promotion and Enhancement of Decent Work for the Vulnerable Categories of Labor.”

Acting Labor Secretary Marianito Roque headed the Philippine delegation to the 20th ALMM and ALMM+3.

Prime Minister Samak Sundarajev of Thailand gave the keynote address at the 20th ALMM opening ceremony.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan also forwarded his message, which was delivered by his deputy secretary-general.

Juan Somavia, director-general of the International Labor Organization (ILO), also had a session with the ASEAN labor ministers.

During the meeting, the ASEAN labor ministers agreed on the importance of decent work and recognized that human resource development is essential in achieving sustainable development and quality job creation.

The Philippines shared its experience on integrating the concept of decent work in Philippine labor policy, long before the ILO formally introduced this concept.

Roque discussed the Philippines’ comprehensive program for labor centering on labor relations, standards and employment. Because of its advanced experience, the ILO chose the Philippines as a pilot country for the implementation of a Decent Work Agenda as early as 1999.

During its chairmanship of the 40th ASEAN Standing Committee from July 2006 to August 2007, the Philippines advanced the cause of migrant workers in the region.

At the 12th ASEAN summit in Cebu on Jan. 13, 2007, the ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.  

The ASEAN foreign ministers followed this up by establishing the committee that will implement the provisions of the declaration, during the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila on July 30, 2007.

The Philippines intends to push forward migrant workers’ concerns in other relevant meetings and forums of ASEAN.