Asean signs ‘landmark’ pact on migrant workers

MANILA: Leaders of the Association ofsoutheastasiannations(asean)are to sign on Tuesday night a “landmark” agreement for the fair treatment and protection against abuse of migrant workers among its 10-member states.

Oficials said the agreement is oficially known as the Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers, which the Philippines has been working on for years for its adoption.

The Asean consensus “establishes a framework for cooperation in the region to safeguard the welfare of migrant workers,” said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The DFA said that accord, among others, upholds the fair treatment of migrant workers regardless of gender and nationality as well as provide visitation rights by family members.

It also prohibits the coniscation of passports and overcharging of placement or recruitment fees and protects against violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, the DFA added.

The signing of the agreement was considered one of the signiicant steps taken by the Asean during its annual summit of leaders and their dialogue partners hosted by the Philippines.

Aside from the Philippines, Asean also includes Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma).

Philippine Secretary Silvestre Bello of the Department of Labor and Employment said at least 200,000 Filipino workers are to beneit from the agreement, pointing out that the Philippines is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of migrant workers.

The Associated Labor Unions-trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALUTUCP), the country’s biggest labour group, welcomed the agreement, saying it was a positive step toward improved labour and occupational safety standards among the Asean members.

“We commend President Duterte for putting in the forefront of the summit the welfare of 10 million migrant workers in Asean by ensuring that the consensus is signed among the irst in the order of business,” said Alan Tanjusay, the ALU-TUCP spokesman.

However, Migrante International, a Manila-based non-government organisation looking after the welfare and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWS), warned that to be effective, the agreement should be “legally binding” among the Asean members.