Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
"The
migrant workers’ issue is one of the major items on the agenda," a Malaysian
official said.
<P>The Philippines, together with Indonesia and less developed
Asean members Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam, are among the biggest labour
exporters in the region.</P><P>These countries seek equal wages and employment
conditions for migrant workers, including decent housing and protection from illegal
recruitment, trafficking and prostitution.</P><P>Recipient countries like Malaysia
and Singapore depend on these migrants who work as maids, construction workers,
factory workers and manual labourers.</P><P>The Philippines alone has more than
10 per cent or about eight million of its total population working overseas.</P><P>Manila
is also pushing for greater liberalisation to expand the market for its nurses.</P><P>Senior
officials hope to reach a compromise that addresses both the needs of migrant
workers and the concerns of recipient countries about the large influx of foreign
workers and their socio-economic impact.</P><P>Meanwhile, Philippine director
of the Bureau of International Trade Regulation (BITR) of the Department of Trade
and Industry Ramon Vicente Kabigting said a major breakthrough yesterday was the
drafting of a standalone statement of the Asean leaders on the World Trade Organisation
(WTO).</P><P>"It broadly calls for progress of the Doha Round of trade negotiations,
asking major players to contribute to a breakthrough in progress. Asean would
play its role as well," he said.</P><P>Asked how effective Asean’s declaration
on WTO would be, Kabigting said: "Everyone has issues, and in the coming
weeks we all have to be flexible and make contributions so that the WTO talks
can move on."</P><P>Asean leaders are also expected to adopt agreements on
counter- terrorism, regional trade, social cohesion, energy and security. They
will also be briefed on the Asean Charter draft by the Eminent Persons Group.</P><P>The
Asean Summit will be followed by the East Asian Summit on Monday, which will bring
together presidents and prime ministers from Australia, China, India, Japan, New
Zealand and South Korea with Asean members Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The theme
this year is "One Caring and Sharing Community".</P><P><I>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/National/20070111090556/Article/local1_html</I>
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