[In the news] Solutions to migrant worker problems expected from ASEAN Summit – ANTARAnews

(ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma) Jakarta (ANTARA News) – An activist hoped the 18th ASEAN Summit here this week would also address migrant workers` problems. Wahyu Susilo from Migrant Care as one of the workshop participants of ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)/ASEAN People Forum said here on Wednesday the issue must become an important agenda at the summit.…

Human Rights Online Philippines

May 6, 2011

2–3 minutes

Antara (news agency), ASEAN, Asia, Burma, Indonesia, Jakarta, Migrant worker, Southeast Asia

(ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) – An activist hoped the 18th ASEAN Summit here this week would also address migrant workers` problems.

Wahyu Susilo from Migrant Care as one of the workshop participants of ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC)/ASEAN People Forum said here on Wednesday the issue must become an important agenda at the summit.

“The issue must not be discussed at a ministerial level but also at the ASEAN summit,” he said here on Wednesday when asked about the issue after the workshop.

Wahyu said migrant workers are an important issue requiring an immediate handling. So far, he said, the existing policy is normative and discussions at ASEAN levels have never progressed.

“Meanwhile violence that often happens on migrant workers is increasing and it is not overcome. Now is the right time for Indonesia as chair of ASEAN to make the issue become an important agenda,” he said.

Wahyu said the ASEAN summit could not be declared successful if it produced no police or commitment to migrant workers` protection.

“At least there is commitment to ratifying the US convention on migrant workers,” he said.

The workshop organized by ACSC/APF among others raised the theme of migrant workers.

In the workship participants from ASEAN member countries exchanged views and experiences regarding conditions of migrant workers in their respective countries.

They were of the view that migrant workers are not a commodity and must be given protection.

On a separate occasion manpower minister Muhaimin Iskandar said Southeast Asia as a sending and recipient region is committed to migrant workers` protection.

He said the ASEAN summit would issue a recommendation consisting of three points namely security for workers during migration, security and protection during working and social security or insurance for workers.

Muhaimin said the recommendation still had yet to be discussed at a ministerial level of the ASEAN ministries concerned and is on a stage of completion.