Strengthen and Advance the Empowerment, Movement and Solidarity of Migrant Women

Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants Statement on the Commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026

On this International Women's Day 2026, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants gives tribute to all women, especially women migrants. Women's struggles in the past have significantly helped change the situation of women today, but women’s struggle is far from over and needs to be strengthened and deepened, including migrant women. 

Women migrants, the majority of whom work in the informal sector, such as domestic work, caregiving, and service provision, continue to face long working hours, temporary contracts, employer-dependent visas, live-in requirements, excessive placement fees and state levies, low wages, and vulnerability to discrimination, xenophobia, rights violations, and physical, mental, and sexual violence.

Amidst these vulnerable situations, many migrant women lack access to public services, social protection, and justice.

Economic factors are the primary drivers of forced migration, alongside conflict and war. The lack of decent domestic employment opportunities, the rising cost of daily living, the commercialization of public services, and the lack of social protection provided by governments have made migration a means of survival and family support for women migrants.

The current tense situation in the Middle East further magnifies the vulnerability of women migrants as well as all migrants and people in the region.  

Women migrants, however, do not remain silent. They organize themselves, form and join associations, educate their community on their rights and what they can do together, work with other women migrants of various nationalities as well as local women in the host communities in demanding wage increase,  rights protection, better treatment and social inclusion. In many countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, women migrant organisations continue to grow in number and strength. 

APMM supports their efforts of movement building and empowerment through our programs of  advocacy and campaigns, research and education, networking organizing and cooperation. We continue to build partnerships with them and co-design activities and initiatives that amplify their voices, support their campaigns, protect their rights to organize, and address problems that come their way. 

This Women's Month, APMM will release a policy paper on ILO Conventions 189 and 190 to highlight how the two conventions can be utilised to protect women migrants from abuse in the work place, especially those in domestic work. The paper evaluates the commitment of the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in adapting measures to protect women migrant domestic workers. Recommendations are also offered in the paper, setting the bar high in demanding protection for migrant women in sending and destination countries.   

This International Working Women’s Day, the APMM commits to supporting women migrants in their empowerment and movement and movement-building. 

Long live the women migrants! Long live the working women!