APMM attends 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour
The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants participated in the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour, or AFML, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 9-10, 2025.
The AFML is an annual multi stakeholder forum of ASEAN governments, employers, workers, international organizations, the Task Force on ASEAN Migrant Workers (TFAMW) and CSOs to further implement the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.
The theme of the 18th AFML was Accelerating Action Towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Safe Migration and Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN. It focused on eliminating forced labour, addressing issues on recruitment fees and related costs, occupational safety and health, freedom of association and collective bargaining, and remittance costs.
Regional and National CSOs in the AFML
Representing APMM was Dewi Amelia Eka Putri who along with Reiko Harima of Mekong Migration Network (MMN) were selected to represent the Regional CSOs organizations in the 18th AFML. Regional civil society organisations (CSOs) are considered as stakeholders in the AFML to provide support and strengthen recommendations made by nationals CSOs.
A day before the actual AFML, a preparatory meeting of CSOs was conducted to consolidate all recommendations from CSOs to be submitted to the ASEAN Secretariat. Some priority recommendations made by Regional CSOs were to align national policies and regulations with the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, reform all discriminatory policies against migrants, and ensure meaningful participation of migrants.
During the AFML, CSOs have worked together and supported each other in ensuring the advancement of migrant workers’ rights in the region.
Whether (or not) Migrant Workers Have Rights to Form Their Own Organizations
Migrants forming their own organizations was debated during the adoption of 18th AFML recommendations. CSO representatives in the forum voiced that the rights of migrant workers to form their own trade unions or workers associations should be part of the 18th AFML recommendations as these are crucial spaces that help with alleviating forced labor and other forms of exploitation.
It was then accommodated in recommendation number 14 of the 18th AFML that says: “Enhance the opportunities of all migrant workers, including domestic workers, to participate in social dialogue and collective bargaining by removing restrictions preventing them from forming or joining trade unions and workers’ associations, subject to national laws. In this relation, trade unions to encourage portability of memberships across ASEAN Member States.”
Based on international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, migrant workers are entitled with fundamental, universally protected rights to form and join trade unions and workers’ associations, regardless of their nationality, status or occupation.
“With rights and freedoms of migrant workers from ASEAN and within ASEAN being outrightly limited or denied, we need more concrete pro-migrant resolutions coming out of the AFML to uphold the rights, wellbeing and dignity of all migrant workers in Southeast Asia,” stated Dewi.
Please find the Regional CSOs recommendations to the 18th AFML here.
Please find consolidated CSOs recommendations to the 18th AFML here.
