ILO launches Southeast Asia migrant worker safeguards program

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ILO Southeast Asia migrant program

Highlights

ILO launched the TRIANGLE Partnerships program covering eight ASEAN countries to address labor exploitation and improve migrant worker protections and employment opportunities.
The initiative connects regional cooperation to national policies and on-the-ground services via Migrant Worker Resource Centers offering legal, training, and counseling support.
The program receives funding from Australia and Switzerland and targets critical issues faced by 24 million ASEAN-origin international migrants, including high recruitment costs and unrecognized skills.

Regional program scope and funding

As reported by BusinessWorld, citing the International Labour Organization, the TRIANGLE Partnerships for Fair and Effective Labour Migration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations program is designed to address labor exploitation and improve employment opportunities for migrant workers across the region. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ILO said the initiative will strengthen labor protections and support services throughout the migration process.

The program covers Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. It focuses on fair recruitment, regular migration pathways, skills development and recognition, social protection, decent work, and the return and reintegration of migrant workers.

The ILO said the initiative will connect regional cooperation with national policies and practical assistance through Migrant Worker Resource Centers, which provide information, counseling, legal assistance, training and referrals. The agency added that governments, employers' and workers' organizations, Southeast Asian institutions, civil society groups, migrant worker organizations and the private sector will take part in implementation.

Labor market pressures and regional impact

According to the ILO, about 24 million international migrants originate from ASEAN countries, while the region hosts around 11 million migrants, including about seven million who have moved within the bloc. Migrant workers continue to face high recruitment costs, gaps in labor and social protection, hazardous working conditions and barriers to having their skills recognized, factors that can increase exposure to exploitation and trafficking, including forced criminality linked to scam centers.

Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, ILO assistant director-general and regional director for Asia and the Pacific, said the program is grounded in international labor standards and is intended to link ASEAN commitments with action and services on the ground so migrant workers can access decent work and support during their migration journey. Australia’s backing builds on more than 15 years of support for ASEAN labor migration efforts through the ILO’s TRIANGLE initiative, while Switzerland is supporting work to help migrant workers build relevant skills and secure recognition of their qualifications.

Tiffany McDonald, Australia’s ambassador to ASEAN, said effective labor migration can support inclusive economic growth, strengthen regional connections and create opportunities for workers, employers and communities. Konstantin Obolensky, Swiss ambassador-designate to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, said the program aims to help migrant workers use recognized skills to access better employment opportunities.

In our earlier article on Malaysia’s need to strengthen its fiscal buffers, we described warnings that recurring global shocks and a prolonged period of high interest rates could squeeze policy space as spending commitments rise under Budget 2027. We also noted proposals to broaden the tax base and refine targeted fuel subsidies, alongside expectations for 2027 growth supported by investment, semiconductor exports, and domestic demand.

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