10th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor Rene E. Cristobal ASEAN Confederation of Employers

ASEAN Statistics More than 90 per cent of intraregional migrants within ASEAN are hosted by its three main receiving countries – Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (ibid) The main sending countries of these intraregional migrants are: Myanmar, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia, and Indonesia

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations Governments should ensure implementation of 9th AFML recommendations, in partnership with employers and workers. Governments to create enabling framework for effective implementation Employers to support implementation of 9th AFML recommendations. Various initiatives have been taken at regional and national levels.

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (ACE) Research on social protection in ASEAN was conducted focusing on four countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore Launched in 2016 during the ACE meeting in Siem Reap

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (Employer Confederation of the Philippines) There is a pending Social Security System (SSS) bill in the Senate of the Philippines that includes provisions on: Mandatory coverage of migrant workers Permanent OFW representative to the Social Security Commission Coverage of migrants workers under unemployment insurance Mandates DOLE and DFA to instigate bilateral agreements with the host countries with regards to the contributions* *still contentious, some employers follow the social protection laws present in their host countries, also favored by employees – indicating higher take-home pay

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (Employer Confederation of the Philippines) ECOP regularly conducts training and seminars, some tackles social protection for workers in the Philippines (i.e. SSS, PhilHealth, HDMF, etc.): 17th ECOP Members’ General Meeting: “Compensation and Benefit Trends” on 16 January 2016 25th ECOP Members’ General Meeting: “Latest Update on: Ending the Endo & SSS Pension Increase” on 19 January 2017 29th ECOP Members’ General Meeting: “Thrusts and Programs of New CEOs: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, and ECC” on 15 June 2017

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations) There is an ongoing 100-day campaign to legalize more than 200,000 Cambodian workers in Thailand; government of Thailand has relaxed regulations for migrant workers to obtain legal documents. In addition, the Ministry of Labour of Cambodia is now in talks with the Thai government over how to recognize workers’ time abroad as a contribution to their final pension when they come home to Cambodia.

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (Malaysian Employers Federation) MEF is updating the Practical Guide on Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Workers (2014), with inputs collected from employers. Includes guidance for employers on providing insurance under Workmen’s Compensation Scheme MEF survey and seminar on management of migrant workers in 2016-2017

Updates on the 9th AFML Recommendations (National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brunei Darussalam) National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) participated in dialogues to increase current minimum insurance coverage for migrant workers from BND 8,000 to BND 10,000.

SALAMAT!