AICHR Philippines Calls for Full Implementation of Policies for the Protection of Women Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Region 

AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative Jaime Victor Ledda moderates a session on Addressing Vulnerabilities in Migration and Ensuring Fair Working Conditions for Migrant Workers at the AICHR Forum on Rights of Migrant Workers. (DFA-ASEAN photo)

MANILA 02 July 2021 – ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Philippines highlighted the importance of full and comprehensive implementation of national and regional policy frameworks to protect the rights of migrant workers at the AICHR Forum on Rights of Migrant Workers held on 30 June 2021 via videoconference.

AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative Jaime Victor Ledda chaired and moderated session three of the Forum on Addressing Vulnerabilities in Migration and Ensuring Fair Working Conditions for Migrant Workers, especially Women. 

“Considering the evolving social, economic, and security challenges, we recognize that the foundation of our policies and programs need to be strengthened by recognizing and deliberately integrating the rights and needs of vulnerable populations,” AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative Ledda added. 

AICHR Temporary Philippine Representative Jaime Victor Ledda is joined by speakers and panelists Mr. Greg Chen of PT. Outsource Indonesia, Ms. Ellene Sana of the Centre for Migrant Advocacy in the Philippines, and Ms. Saranya Chittangwong of UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. (DFA-ASEAN photo)

Ms. Ellene Sana of the Center for Migrant Advocacy pointed out that of the 272 million migrant workers in 2019, 66.6 million are women migrant workers and 6.8 million are from Southeast Asia working in the ASEAN region. 

The session discussed the challenges of women migrant workers, including job inequality, gender-based abuse, debt bondage, availability of universal health care, and less opportunities, among others. The panelists also raised how the majority of jobs among migrant workers in the ASEAN region are the lowest paid and least protected. 

Recognizing the high demand for migrant workers and their invaluable contribution to the region’s economic progress and development, the discussion proposed a cross-border, multilateral, and multi-stakeholder approach to ensure the promotion of human rights and increased economic empowerment of migrant workers, especially women, as well as enabling women migrant workers to an inclusive and gender-responsive working environment. 

Organized by AICHR Indonesia and attended by more than 100 participants, the AICHR Forum on the Rights of Migrant Workers served as a forum for ASEAN stakeholders to discuss the implementation of Article 4 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration related to Human Rights of Migrant Workers. END 

Panelists and participants from different ASEAN sectoral bodies share experiences and thoughts on how to promote the rights and welfare of migrant workers in and out of the ASEAN Region. (DFA-ASEAN photo)