Integrating ASEAN in Labor Migration Policy: From Disjointed to Complementary Actor

Abstract

In addition to global and national labor migration policies, regional-level strategies can contribute to the protection of Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN's) low and unskilled migrant workers. However, there is a need for ASEAN and its partners to work with contextual specificities, including ASEAN's normative framework, conditions within its member-states, and civil society, while at the same time also complement global initiatives. ASEAN is well-placed to promote and protect the rights of migrant workers in the region, despite current shortcomings. However, this can only be done if ASEAN integrates itself within national and international institutions and standards, rather than be a separate level of governance squeezed in between the domestic and the global. In essence, ASEAN must move from being a disjointed to a complementary actor.

ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour: A space for civil society in migration governance at the regional level?

“…The authors cite this strategy also as an explanation for an impasse on migration governance on the regional level. In contrast, other authors argue that the regional level might actually address shortcomings of national policies: Allison‐Reumann claims that ‘regional‐level strategies can contribute to the protection of ASEAN's low and unskilled migrant workers’ (Allison‐Reumann, : 427) and Quayle sees potential in the ‘soft practices’ of ASEAN that could ‘function as place‐holders, or trailmarkers, staking out space and indicating the direction until such times as a more propitious climate has emerged’ (Quayle, : 424). Citing Skeldon, Kneebone suggests that bilateral agreements, especially in the context of so‐called low‐skilled migrant labour, would be ‘best negotiated within the context of multilateral or regional agreements that provide a strong framework to ensure that government‐to‐government arrangements conform to international standards’ (Kneebone, : 387).…”