"Recovery and labour migration in the post pandemic future"

National Tripartite Preparatory Workshops for the 14th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour

National tripartite preparatory workshops for the 14th AFML will be held in several ASEAN Member States to discuss the theme “Recovery and labour migration in the post pandemic future” and take stock on the progress of stakeholders in implementing the previous AFML recommendations.

The ASEAN Forum for Migrant Labour (AFML) is an open platform for the review, discussion and exchange of good practices and ideas between governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and civil society on key issues facing migrant workers in Southeast Asia. Each year the AFML develops recommendations to advance the implementation of the principles of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

The 14th AFML will be hosted on 6 and 8 September by the Government of Brunei Darussalam as the current chair of the ASEAN and the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW). The 14th AFML will proceed as a face-to-face meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, and online for regional participants.

The 14th AFML will carry the overall theme "Recovery and labour migration in the post pandemic future" and cover two thematic sessions:
  • Subtheme 1. Protection of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic – Current situation
  • Subtheme 2. Recovery and the post pandemic future
The National Tripartite Preparatory Workshop in Lao PDR on 30 August 2021
The 14th AFML builds upon the discussions at the 13th AFML in November 2020, which focused on theme "Supporting Migrant Workers during the Pandemic for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community". Since then, much more has been learned about the impact of the pandemic on labour markets within the region and about the projected impact of ongoing pandemic. The 14th AFML takes stock of the new and emerging COVID-19 related challenges faced by migrant workers and stakeholders, and discusses longer term shifts in labour migration governance and reform that will better meet the challenges anticipated in the region in the medium term.

National tripartite preparatory workshops for the 14th AFML will be held in several ASEAN Member States to take stock on the progress of stakeholders in implementing the previous AFML recommendations and to discuss and adopt recommendations on the theme of the 14th AFML. The meetings will be organized as face-to-face meetings and/or online meetings depending on COVID-19 situation in each country. These meetings are supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO) TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, which is a partnership between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the ILO.

The following dates have been set for the preparatory workshops:
  • 19 and 20 August: Philippines
  • 24 August: Malaysia
  • 25 August: Indonesia
  • 26 August: Cambodia
  • 26 August: Thailand
  • 27 August: Viet Nam
  • 30 August: Lao PDR
  • 2 September: Civil Society
  • 3 September: Employers
  • 3 September: Workers