Accelerating Actions Towards Sustainable Development Goals on Safe Migration and Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN

National Tripartite Preparatory Workshops for the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour

National tripartite preparatory workshops for the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) were conducted in several ASEAN member states to assess stakeholders' progress in implementing the previous AFML recommendations and discuss the theme of the 18th AFML. In addition, preparatory workshops were conducted in Myanmar (with Trade Union and CSO representatives only), and by Employers' organizations and Workers' organizations.

Accelerating Actions Towards Sustainable Development Goals on Safe Migration and Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN

The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is an open platform for the review, discussion and exchange of good practices and ideas between governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and civil society on key issues facing migrant workers in Southeast Asia. Each year the Forum develops recommendations to advance the implementation of the principles of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

The 18th AFML was hosted on 9-10 September by the Government of Malaysia as the current chair of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW).

The theme of the 18th AFML is "Accelerating Actions Towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Safe Migration and Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN." The theme is divided into two subthemes as follows:

Subtheme 1: Safe and Secure Environments Free from Forced Labour
Subtheme 2. Reduced Recruitment and Remittance Costs

National tripartite preparatory workshops for the 18th AFML were held in several ASEAN Member States to take stock on the progress of stakeholders in implementing the previous AFML recommendations and to discuss the theme of the 18th AFML. These meetings were supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, which is a partnership between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the ILO.

The following dates are set for the preparatory workshops:

Cambodia: 21 August 2025
- Recommendations
Indonesia: 28 August 2025
- Recommendations
Lao People's Democratic Republic: 29 August 2025
- Recommendations
Myanmar (CSOs and Trade Unions): 28 August 2025
- Recommendations
The Philippines: 4 September 2025
- Recommendations
Thailand: 18 August 2025
- Recommendations
Viet Nam: 25 August 2025
Employers' organizations: 8 September 2025
Workers' organizations: 8 September 2025
Combined recommendations of the Preparatory Workshops for the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour.