The Philippine chairmanship of the 31st Asean Summit will be remembered for the landmark agreement signed in Manila by leaders of the 10 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The document, called the “Asean Consensus on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers”, will strengthen social protection, access to justice, humane and fair treatment and access to health services for migrant workers in the region.
About 7 million migrant workers employed within Asean member- states—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—will be covered by the agreement, which will benefit over 200,000 overseas Filipino workers employed in Singapore and Malaysia.
The signing of the historic document, described as the centerpiece of the country’s chairmanship of the just-concluded Asean summit, came 10 years after the regional bloc adopted the Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The agreement manifests the resolve of Asean leaders to strengthen the protection and promotion of rights of workers against exploitation and maltreatment.
Certain quarters welcomed the agreement as a positive step toward improved working conditions for migrant workers. The Blas F. Ople Policy Center said in a statement: “The signing of the Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers is the heart of the summit. It serves as a beacon for other regional blocs to follow. That it took place under the Philippine chairmanship of Asean manifests our country’s strong leadership role in promoting a rights-based approach to labor migration.”
The agreement provides for respect for gender and nationality and protection against violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. Additionally, it provides for visits by family members and reinforces workers’ right to join trade unions and associations. It prohibits passport confiscation and overcharging of recruitment fees, as well as regulates recruiters for better protection of workers. However, it’s important for government officials to conduct massive information campaign to educate stakeholders, especially our own migrant workers, and give them deeper understanding of what the agreement is all about.
The Philippines is a huge labor exporter with more than 10 million Filipinos working abroad. As such, the country’s labor officials can draw inspiration from the Asean agreement to forge bilateral labor arrangements with labor-receiving countries. This way, the government will expand the net of protection to our modern day heroes who contribute billions of dollars to the country’s coffers.
Although the implementation of the agreement is subject to the respective laws of Asean members, the document alone could be the start of something more significant for the entire region. For example, it could pave the way for the adoption of a uniform labor and working conditions among Asean members. For the longest time, the race to the bottom concept has forced Asean members to compete with each other by cutting wages and living standards for workers.
The agreement would prevent abuse and exploitation of Asean migrant workers, and help expunge the race to the bottom in the region. Thus, it would ensure inclusive growth among Asean economies aspiring to grow together.