ACMW begins discussions on an instrument on the rights of migrant workers

On March 26-27, 2009, the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) met in Manila, Philippines to begin discussions on the scope of coverage, rights and key principles to be included in an instrument on the rights of migrant workers. ACMW representatives also agreed to convene a drafting committee tasked to outline the rights to be covered by the instrument, initially composed of representatives from Malaysia and Singapore (receiving states) as well as the Philippines, Indonesia (sending states) and Thailand (as Chair of ASEAN).

To have a better outlook on the pressing issues of migrant workers, an open session was incorporated into the workshop’s program. A representative from the International Labour Organization gave a presentation on the proposed labor migration framework and its relevance to ASEAN while the representative of the International Organization for Migration looked into the current trends and perspectives on migration. Atty. Amparita Sta. Maria, Research Director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, was also asked to report on the situation of migrant workers in Southeast Asia. She surveyed domestic legislation in ASEAN member-states which afford protection to migrant workers and expounded on the international commitments that are already in place and which are therefore also sources of obligation.

Attended by representatives from ASEAN ministries of labor as well as other government agencies whose mandates affect labor migration, the participants came up with recommendations for the framework instrument. In brief, the process of drafting an instrument for the promotion and protection of the rights of migrant workers has commenced and hopefully its scope and coverage can be agreed on before too long. Although there is still work to be done, the recommendations made by the participants and the creation of the drafting committee are good indicators of the progress of the ACMW.