12 Dec 2018
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
ASEAN Launchs Safe Migration Campaign; top ASEAN,EU official discuss safe labout migration
JAKARTA, 12 December 2018 - The ASEAN Safe Migration Campaign was launched today at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to raise public awareness on safe labour migration that benefits all.
More than 120 participants representing governments of ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Dialogue Partners, employers, workers, civil society groups and media attended the launch. It was hosted by the Ministry of Manpower of Indonesia with support of the ASEAN Secretariat, International Labour Organization (ILO) through its TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme and the Enhanced EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI).
A campaign video was unveiled during the launch and features messages on advantages of regular migration and efforts of ASEAN to protect the rights of migrant workers. It also underlines that everyone has a role to play in promoting safe labour migration.
“ASEAN as a region is commemorating the International Migrants Day on 18 December by launching the ASEAN Safe Migration Campaign today. The Campaign is a translation of our commitment to implement the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers,” said Kung Phoak, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
The ASEAN Safe Migration Campaign contributes to the implementation of the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers signed by leaders at the 31st ASEAN Summit in November 2017.
Maruli A. Hasoloan, Director General of Manpower Placement Development and Job Opportunity, Ministry of Manpower of Indonesia, highlighted “Labour migration in ASEAN has increased annually and it is estimated that 21.3 million ASEAN citizens live outside their countries, of which 6.8 million people are intra-regional migrants. A large number of ASEAN migrant workers work in the domestic sector, being vulnerable to suffer from labour and non-labour cases and highly need protection. It is very important to have commitments at regional level to providing protection to ASEAN migrant workers as well as promoting their rights.”
Panudda Boonpala, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, remarked “labour migration has long been a significant factor behind the economic and social advancement of the ASEAN region and its people. Today, ahead of International Migrants Day and one year following the adoption of the ASEAN Consensus, we come together to share information, spread awareness, and make ASEAN a region of safe migration.”
Following the launching ceremony in the morning, the ASEAN-EU Dialogue focused on the theme “ASEAN and EU Labor Mobility – Sharing experiences and lessons learnt” was convened. It served as an inaugural platform for ASEAN and the EU to share experiences, challenges, good practices and perspectives on labour mobility governance, portability of social security for migrant workers, and responsible business practices that contribute to safe labour migration.
Francisco Fontan, Ambassador of the EU to ASEAN underlined “The European Union is committed to supporting ASEAN on safe migration. We dedicate substantial efforts to make labour migration safe and fair for all, in particular women migrants in South East Asia, to prevent and reduce forced labour, and progressively eliminate the exploitation of migrant workers. I look forward to the dialogue on labour migration this afternoon, where we will share the EU’s experience with free movement of workers, some of the challenges facing ASEAN, and where we hope to draw joint lessons learnt.”
The ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Safe Labour Migration was jointly supported by the ASEAN Secretariat and the EU, through E-READI.
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The Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia is a government agency responsible for labour issues and reports to the President. H.E. Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri assumed his position as Minister of Manpower in October 2014.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967. The Member States of the Association are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta.
International Labour Organization (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme is part of ILO’s global efforts to promote fair migration. TRIANGLE in ASEAN delivers technical assistance and support with the overall goal of maximizing the contribution of labour migration to equitable, inclusive and stable growth in ASEAN. TRIANGLE in ASEAN extends the successful partnerships with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Global Affairs Canada.
The Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) facilitates dialogues between the EU and ASEAN across a broad range of sectoral policy areas and addresses the mutually identified policy dialogue priorities on a demand-driven basis. Drawing on relevant EU regional integration experience, it further strengthens both the ASEAN community building and the ASEAN-EU partnership.
For more information, please contact:
Ministry of Manpower of Indonesia, Head of Publication and Documentation Subdivision, Mr. Aditya Putra Mahardhika, aditya.pm85@gmail.com
ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Community Relations Division, Media Officer Andreas Arditya andreas.arditya@asean.org
EU Mission to ASEAN, Programme Manager, Ina Hodge Ina.HODGE@eeas.europa.eu
E-READI, Communication & Outreach Expert, Denada Stottele denada@stottele.ch
ILO TRIANGLE in ASEAN Communications and Advocacy Officer, Helene
Thor thor@ilo.org