ASEAN Adopts Philippine-led Declaration for Migrant Workers

Southeast Asian leaders adopted a landmark regional agreement on Sunday to curb abusive recruitment practices and protect vulnerable workers, according to the Philippine News Agency.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations approved the ASEAN Declaration on Fair, Ethical and Sustainable Recruitment for Empowered Migrant Workers during the opening day of the 49th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Manila.

Spearheaded by the Philippines through the Department of Migrant Workers, the framework expands existing labor rules to safeguard approximately 600,000 overseas Filipino workers across the region, News.Az reported.

The agreement tackles modern labor vulnerabilities by addressing illegal recruitment, human trafficking, and online employment scams. Officials emphasized that female workers, who make up the majority of domestic service employees across Southeast Asia, face heightened risks.

ASEAN adopts declaration on fair and ethical recruitment of migrant workers — The Manila Times

The framework seeks to eliminate unreasonable placement costs and strengthen oversight of recruitment and manning agencies. According to the Philippine News Agency, the long-term goal is to achieve zero placement fees across the 11 member states.

“This declaration … advances ASEAN instruments towards the protection and promotion of rights of migrant workers,” said Hans Leo Cacdac, Philippine Secretary of Migrant Workers, during a press briefing cited by the Philippine News Agency.

Department of Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara said that the pact carries no formal sanctions or penalties for member states failing to enforce compliance. Instead, the initiative relies on institutional capacity-building and cooperation.

ASEAN adopts Phl-led declaration to protect migrant workers — Photo: Daily Tribune

The declaration integrates into the ASEAN Committee on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers 2026-2030 work plan, with initial implementation steps slated for early 2027.

Founded in 1967, ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste. The current summit runs for three days in Manila before the Philippines hands over its rotating chairmanship to Singapore on Tuesday.

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“OFWs can remain confident that the Philippines, under the chairship of the Philippines and the leadership of the President, will continue to translate these regional commitments into responsive policies and programs,” Cacdac said, as reported by News.Az.

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