Protection of Migrant Workers through Regular and Safe Migration Pathways

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 South-East 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.

Theme

The theme of the 19th AFML is “Protection of Migrant Workers through Regular and Safe Migration Pathways.” The Forum will focus on emerging recruitment practices and access to protection, remedy and support for migrant workers through two subthemes:

• Subtheme 1: Online Recruitment and Its Challenges: Examining the risks associated with online recruitment, including exploitation, cyber and online fraud, third-country recruitment and regulatory gaps. Discussions will consider the roles of countries of origin and destination, existing regulations and gaps that need to be addressed. Attention will also be given to promoting safe migration pathways in response to evolving labour market needs and the growing use of digital platforms, including through stronger pre-departure orientation and greater awareness of digital risks among migrant workers.
• Sub-theme 2: Access to Protection, Remedy and Support to Migrant Workers: Addressing protection and support services, complaint procedures, access to legal remedies and barriers to justice, including for migrant workers affected by fraudulent recruitment and trafficking. Particular attention will be given to victim identification, including cases involving coercion into cyber-enables scams, as well as access to legal aid, grievance mechanisms and complaint processes.

The 19th AFML is expected to develop recommendations addressing challenges related to online recruitment, identify good practices on access to remedy and support, strengthen labour migration frameworks and enhance cooperation among ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders to protect migrant workers from irregular and unsafe migration pathways.

About the AFML

The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour is a recurring activity of the ACMW and forms part of the ACMW Action Plan 2026–2030, supporting implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2007) and the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2017). It provides ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders with a platform to review and discuss key labour migration issues, exchange good practices and develop recommendations.

TRIANGLE Partnerships supports the AFML process through national and regional preparatory activities, support for the participation of workers’ and employers’ organizations and research and evidence to inform AFML discussions.