ASEAN to Finish Discussioan on Migrant Workers Protection by 2014

By Amie Fenia Arimbi Jakarta (Antara) - Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) set target to finish discussion on framework for migrant workers protection by 2014, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director for ASEAN Functional Cooperation Rosmalawati Chalid said here on Thursday. "The framework will emphasize on the protection and promotion of rights of migrant workers working within ASEAN territory. It will support the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community next 2015 where the flow of human capital within this region will be easier," she said. Asked about whether the discussion will be made into a binding regulation among ASEAN countries, she said it is still on discussion among representatives from ASEAN member countries as each of the member has their own opinion in this issue. In migrant worker's issue ASEAN is divided into two groups namely the exporter and the importer countries. The exporting countries include Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar while the importing ones are Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. Last 2009 the discussion about this issue was on deadlock due to debate between importing and exporting countries where exporting countries wanted equal protection and right promotions between documented and undocumented migrant workers. ASEAN has actually signed a declaration about migrant workers protection during meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, last 2007. The declaration contains eight commitments of ASEAN member countries about working condition, human resources development, anti human trafficking, data exchange about troubled migrant workers, capacity building through training and aid for troubled ASEAN workers who are working outside ASEAN territory. Earlier Indonesian Minister for Manpower and Transmigration Muhaimin Iskandar called on ASEAN countries to accelerate the discussion about framework for migrant workers protection as the deadline for the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community is near. "We need to protect migrant workers because they make contribution, socially and economically, to both exporting and importing countries," said the minister adding that efforts to improve the quality of human resources must also be addressed.( *) (T.A051/A/A.F. Arimbi/F. Assegaf)