Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have adopted a number of declarations and statements meant to enhance cooperation in various areas to build an integrated, stable and prosperous community in the fast-growing region.
Philippine Rodrigo Duterte said at the end of the two-day 31st ASEAN summit and related meetings on Tuesday that leaders noted the importance of staying the course in economic integration, both at the level of ASEAN Economic Community and integration with its external economic partners.
He said all discussions point to the realization of an integrated, peaceful, stable and resilient ASEAN community that actively takes a leading role as a regional and global player in advancing political-security cooperation, economic growth, and socio-cultural development.
Duterte, who chaired the meetings, said he had "engaging, productive, and fruitful discussions" with other ASEAN leaders on ASEAN's "continuing work in community-building and the implementation of the blueprints and work plans toward the realization of the ASEAN vision 2025.
ASEAN leaders held successive summits with the leaders of ASEAN's dialogue partners, including the ASEAN Plus Three with China, Japan and South Korea, and the East Asia Summit (EAS) involving China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.
At these meetings, Duterte said leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues, including terrorism and the rise of violent extremism, stressing the importance of cooperation in addressing issues that affect peace, security, and prosperity of the region.
ASEAN COMMITTED TO PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT
The ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers that strengthens the social protection, access to justice, and ensures humane and fair treatment of the growing numbers of migrant workers in the region.
They believed the document will help establish a framework for cooperation on migrant workers in the region and contribute to the ASEAN community building process.
The migrant workers contribute to the societies and economies of both receiving and sending states of ASEAN.
The document provides the opportunity for ASEAN members to develop an instrument that establishes a framework for cooperation in safeguarding the interests and welfare of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in the region.
Among its many important provisions, the document upholds fair treatment of migrant workers with respect to gender and nationality, provides for visitation rights by family members, prohibits confiscation of passports and overcharging of placement or recruitment fees, protects against violence and sexual harassment in the workplace, regulates recruiters for better protection of workers, and respects their right to fair and appropriate remuneration and benefits and their right to join trade union and association.
Like all ASEAN agreements, the implementation of the document will be subject to the respective laws of each ASEAN member states.
ASEAN countries are significant senders of migrants globally, but also important destinations for migrants from the region. Large intra-ASEAN migration flows are the result of significant diversity in economic development within the region.
