ASEAN forum adopts recommendations on the use of digital technologies for a fair labour migration
The 11th ASEAN Forum on Labour Migration concluded with the adoption of 15 recommendations on how digitalisation can contribute to decent work for migrant workers.
BANGKOK (ILO News) – As the use of digital technology increases across all aspects of labour migration, ASEAN Member States are committed to working towards systems that ensure that digital technology is accessible, safe, and promotes decent work for all migrant workers.
ASEAN Member States met in Singapore, 29-30 October, at the 11th ASEAN Forum on Labour Migration to discuss issues of how digital technologies can improve labour management systems and how digital services can help migrant workers.
In his opening remarks, Mr Lim Tze Jiat, Chair of the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers and Director of Singapore Ministry of Manpower Workplace Policy and Strategy Division, called upon AFML delegates to take this opportunity to innovate, be resilient, boost growth, and embrace technology to tackle the challenges of achieving decent work for migrant workers in ASEAN.
The theme “Digitalisation to Promote Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN” was the springboard for dynamic discussions on how to better use digital technology to achieve fair migration.
With the principal view of advancing all migrant worker’s well-being, the AFML resulted in 15 recommendations on leveraging technology to improve labour migration management and the provision of digital services for migrant workers. The recommendations outlines measures on how digitalisation can improve services used by migrant workers, labour management information systems, inter-agency coordination, recruitment processes, and re-integration measures.
The recommendations also stressed the importance of data privacy and assuring that migrant workers have access to technology and digital services.
The ILO welcomes the recommendations adopted by 10 ASEAN Member States.
I’m pleased that ASEAN with these recommendations have committed to ensure that migrant workers are accorded the right to information and communication, such as ownership; access; and reasonable usage to mobile phones or other ICT gadgets. Having access to a mobile phone is absolutely critical for migrant workers to keep in touch with family and peers. Having a phone is also critical to ensure that they can reach out for help, when and if needed."
Ms Anna Engblom, Senior Programme Manager, TRIANGLE in ASEAN, ILO
The forum was organised by the Government of Singapore, current ASEAN Chair, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration, UN Women, the Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Representatives from all ASEAN Member States governments and its nominated employers’ organisations; workers’ organisations; and civil society organisations, alongside representatives from Australia, Canada and Switzerland, took part in the event.
For further information, please contact:
Helene Thor Communications and Advocacy Officer TRIANGLE in ASEAN ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific thor@ilo.org
