Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
Manila, which holds
the rotating chairmanship of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN), wants to emphasize social development at the group’s summit and plans
to unveil a roadmap for creating a "community of caring societies".
<P>Indonesia,
the Philippines and poorer members of ASEAN such as Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and
Vietnam are among the region’s biggest labor exporters, sending people abroad
to work as maids, builders, factory workers and manual laborers.</P><P>ASEAN members
Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore host migrant workers, who often face exploitation
by employers and employment agencies. Rape and physical abuse is also a common
problem.</P><P>The proposed declaration calls for equal wages and employment conditions
for migrant workers, as well as decent housing and protection from illegal recruitment,
trafficking and prostitution.</P><P>According to documents seen by Reuters, one
of the agreements being worked on included meting out tougher penalties for human
traffickers.</P><P>The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest exporters of
labour with over eight million Filipinos, around 10 percent of the country’s estimated
87 million population, working overseas.</P><P>"This is one issue that’s
very close to our hearts," said one Filipino diplomat.</P><P>Another diplomat
said some ASEAN members, who import foreign labor, were stalling the agreement
because they did not want to encourage large waves of migration.</P><P>But Luis
Cruz, Manila’s director-general for ASEAN, said he was confident consensus would
be reached. "It’s the only and last outcome document to be adopted,"
he said.</P><P>The leaders would also agree to help migrant workers from any ASEAN
member-state that may be caught in conflict outside the region, recalling difficulties
in repatriating workers from Lebanon last year.</P><P>Cruz said leaders were also
expected to adopt agreements on counter-terrorism, regional trade, social cohesion
and drafting a constitution for the bloc. An agreement on energy security would
also be signed among 16 Asian leaders, he added.</P><P>The summit, from January
10-15, will bring together presidents and prime ministers from Australia, China,
India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea with ASEAN leaders.</P><P>ASEAN groups
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.</P>
<P><I>Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=62155</I>
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