“Enhancing the effectiveness of legal pathways for labour migration in ASEAN”

The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is a multi-stakeholder open forum held annually to discuss protection of migrant workers and labour migration governance in the ASEAN region. It is a recurring activity of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) under the Action Plan (2018 – 2025) to Implement the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The AFML serves to provide the relevant stakeholders – tripartite members of the ASEAN Member States, civil society organizations, and international organizations – with a platform to exchange ideas and best practices on issues relating to migrant workers in the ASEAN region. As 2022 ACMW Chair, Indonesia organizes the 16th AFML from 25-26 October 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The theme of the 16th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is Enhancing the effectiveness of legal pathways for labour migration in ASEAN.

Sub-theme 1: Improving labour migration programmes in ASEAN

This theme focuses on current forms of temporary labour migration in ASEAN – work permit systems, bilateral labour agreements/MOUs and domestic migrant workers, seasonal worker, and border pass schemes – with a view to making them more gender -responsive, safe, affordable, accessible and efficient. Discussions will examine the challenges related to migration pathways including lack of reliable data disaggregated by gender and migratory status, discriminatory provisions, restrictions, exclusions in law and practice that limit opportunities, particularly for women and persons of diverse gender identities to migrate safely and orderly and review good international and regional practices in facilitating temporary labour migration in ways that are effective and protect migrant workers’ rights while also empowering them. Labour market access for admitted migrant workers will also be discussed, including, approaches to allowing changes in employer regardless of the sector employed. The role of digital platforms in enhancing transparency and efficiency in the process of sending and receiving workers will be looked at.

Sub-theme 2: Ensuring legal migration pathways that are inclusive and responsive to the labour market

This theme focuses on aligning labour migration pathways with labour market and skills demands in ASEAN labour markets. The session will discuss different ways for governments to respond to labour and skills shortages, including identifying in-demand occupations based on labour market information and forecasts and ways to increase skills development and facilitate mutual recognition of skills, qualifications and competences for all migrant workers, especially women. Further, within admission policies, certifying and recognising the skills or qualifications of a worker may be required or desirable. Regional and international experiences of such approaches and processes will be shared. The session will also consider the whole cycle migration ways to expand and diversify regular pathways and to ensure that legal pathways are inclusive and accessible for all migrant workers.

The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour is a multi-stakeholder open forum held annually to discuss protection of migrant workers and labour migration governance in the ASEAN region. It is a recurring activity of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) under the Action Plan (2018 – 2025) to Implement the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The AFML serves to provide the relevant stakeholders – tripartite members of the ASEAN Member States, civil society organizations, and international organizations – with a platform to exchange ideas and best practices on issues relating to migrant workers in the ASEAN region.