Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), a network of 260 migrant workers’ association, trade unions and migrants’ rights advocates in the region, urged the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to protect the rights of millions of migrant workers in the region.

“ Southeast Asia has a large population of labor migrants, many of whose rights are violated on the basis of their race, ethnicity, gender or creed. We call on ASEAN to enshrine in its Charter international core labor standards including freedom of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively and elimination of all forms of discrimination at the workplace,” said MFA.

The regional network also asks ASEAN to provide for a mechanism for the mutual recognition and accreditation of skills by Member States; enshrine the principle of equal treatment, and adopt standard employment contracts that protect the rights and well-being of native and migrant labor alike; and uphold the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

MFA made these recommendations through the Solidarity for Asian Peoples Advocacy (SAPA), a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, trade unions, engaged in campaigns and advocacy on various issues of public interest at the national and regional levels. SAPA met in Singapore in June 2006 and submitted their recommendations to the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the ASEAN Charter, which gathers inputs from civil society and private sector and will submit a draft to the ASEAN Heads of States during the Leaders Summit in Cebu City, Philippines in December 2006.

MFA also said ASEAN must recognize the contributions made by millions of migrant workers to the economies of its members. “Labor migration provides significant economic contributions to both sending and receiving countries. Remittances from labor migrants across the region amount to billions of dollars. If use properly, remittances can be an additional means for just and people-centered development, provided that appropriate institutional support and economic opportunity existed,” said MFA.

“ASEAN should recognise that its people are not tradable commodities. It should promote and respect the human and trade union rights of its people and as such should formulate policies and programs on human resource development that will not infringe on these rights,” MFA said.

Recently, MFA criticized the Malaysian government for its proposal of hiring migrant workers through offshore outsourcing firms. The Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs announced on July 12 that it lifted the two-year ban on Bangladeshi workers and approved 139 outsourcing firms that will be responsible for the recruitment of workers.

“ We believe that leaving the recruitment of migrant workers in the hands of outsourcing companies will only lead to further exploitation of workers and erosion of labour standards. More often than not, migrant workers are bounded to unjust and unfair employment contracts that force them to work long hours at near-poverty level wages in slave-like working conditions. Hiring workers through offshore recruitment agencies abrogates the responsibilities of the employers and the Malaysian government,” said MFA in a statement.

MFA also chided the Malaysian government for its renewed plan to launch a crackdown on undocumented migrant workers by using the services of the People’s Volunteer Corps or RELA, which is notorious for the human rights violations committed against migrant workers during the countless raids it conducted in the first six months of 2006 where it used excessive force against migrant workers.

“As a member of the International Labour Organization, Malaysia is expected ‘to respect, to promote and to realize the principles concerning the fundamental. Upholding human rights for all is hard work; it goes beyond the headline-grabbing statements and catchy sound bites. Consistency must be shown at all levels. If the Malaysian government wants to be seen as a champion of human rights it must desist from implementing undemocratic practices that impede human rights in its own backyard,” said MFA.

For interviews please contact:

Migrant Forum in Asia
59-B Malumanay Street
Teachers Village, Quezon City
Tel. Nos. 4333508, 09278775810
Email: mfa@pacific.net.hk
Web: www.mfasia.org
Regional Coordinator: Mr. William Gois

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