Philippines: Multilateral Approach for Migration Management in ASEAN Needed 

Assistant Secretary of the Office of Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OMWA) Enrico T. Fos validated and provided feedback to the findings of the AICHR Study on Migration and Human Rights: Migration Management for the Most Vulnerable Groups within ASEAN 

MANILA, 10 November 2021 – Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Enrico T. Fos called for a multilateral approach in migration management in ASEAN, and encouraged continued cooperation between and among countries of origin, transit, and destination during the Regional Consultation organized by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Indonesia on 01 November 2021.

The Consultation aimed to provide a platform for migration experts and representatives from government, universities, think tanks, and civil society organisations in ASEAN to provide constructive inputs and comments to the “AICHR Study on Migration and Human Rights: Migration Management for the Most Vulnerable Groups within ASEAN.”

Assistant Secretary Fos added that while countries have their respective best practices in protecting the rights of migrant workers, there is a need for it to be complemented and balanced with other countries’ best practices and experiences. He likewise urged ASEAN Member states to consider and include the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) in the AICHR study, and for it to be used as a tool in improving labor migration management and governance. 

Even as expert panelists highlighted that the AICHR study complements existing ASEAN initiatives on the rights of migrant workers, Assistant Secretary Fos pointed out that, as a parallel objective, UN agencies such as the International Labor Organization, UN Women, United Nations Development Program, and International Organization for Migration have initiatives (including BRIDGE Program, Ship to Shore Rights Southeast Asia Program, and Safe & Fair: Realizing Women Migrant Workers’ Rights and Opportunities in the ASEAN Region Program,  among others) which ASEAN could integrate in its migration management efforts. 

The finalization of the AICHR Study shows the importance of promoting safe and orderly migration, particularly the vulnerable groups in Southeast Asia, and improving the labor migration process and ASEAN’s regional cooperation. END