Asian ministerial officials discuss labor migration issues in Manila

Asian labor ministers, senior officials and some international agency representatives Friday discussed labor migration issues in Manila to pursue better protection of migrant workers and interstate cooperation.

Dialogue and coordination among Asia countries having workers abroad can be a significant step in the direction of better coordination with countries of destination and better protection of the rights of migrants, said Brunson McKinley, director generalof the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at the inaugural ceremony of the Second Labor Migration Ministerial Consultations for Countries of Origin in Asia.

The purpose of the ministerial consultations is to provide a forum for Asian labor sending countries to share experiences on labor migration policies and practices, consult on issues faced bylabor migrants and sending states, propose practical solutions to protect migrants, review the implementation of recommendations made and identify further steps for action, McKinley said.

"The three migration themes that continue be of paramount importance to governments and other concerned actors in the regionare protection of migrant workers and support services, optimizingbenefits of organized labor migration and institutional capacity building and interstate cooperation," he added.

Philippine Vice President Noli de Castro, also presidential adviser for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), said that in a globalized environment, labor-sending countries have to contend with new patterns of labor migration that includes intra-regional migration, increased female migration, as well as rising irregularmigration.

"These increasing flows of people seeking work beyond borders make it crucial for countries to manage migration more efficiently," de Castro said in a keynote address.

Likewise, He said being one of the largest suppliers of migrantworkers, the Philippines recognizes that Filipinos overseas will continue to play a critical role in the country's economic and social stability. There are about 8 million overseas Filipino workers worldwide, according to the government.

"The mandate to protect our migrant workers was affirmed when our government stood firm in its avowed duty and secured the safe and immediate release of Angelo de la Cruz by his abductors in Iraq," he said, adding that protection of Filipinos also one of the three pillars of the present administration's foreign policy.

He said the Philippine experiences with migration would indicate that gains are better achieved by interstate cooperation and strong alliance with each other.

The meeting is exceedingly timely and very important as the immigration of workers from developing countries to industrializedcountries have been on the increase over the last few decades, said Philippine Secretary of Department of labor and Employment Patricia Tomas at a press briefing.

A Chairperson's Summary and Recommendations is expected to be adopted Friday.

Delegates and representatives from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Afghanistan and the Philippines, the IOM and the Asian DevelopmentBank attended the meeting hosted by the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment in collaboration with the IOM on Sept. 22-24,with preparatory meeting of senior officials beginning on Wednesday.

The first Asian labor Migration Ministerial Consultations was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, last year during which labor sending Asian countries adopted a declaration aimed at improving the management of labor migration programs and the advancement of overseas worker's welfare.

The participation states likewise agreed to set up an implementation process and the conduct of follow-up consultations.

Source: Xinhu