ASEAN tackle issue of migrant workers<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lawmakers from ASEAN countries shared views on Tuesday on the
\nneed to accord better treatment to migrant workers by drafting a
\nresolution consisting of standard rights for workers to ensure
\ntheir safety while on duty overseas.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers also recommended that each member country
\ngovernment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
\ntake tough action against anyone maltreating workers.<\/p>\n
\"We agree to protect workers from abuse or maltreatment by
\ntheir employers,\" said Aisyah Aminy, who chaired the committee
\nfor social affairs here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
She added that the draft resolution would also urge the
\ngovernment of each ASEAN country to ban illegal workers from
\nbeing employed in their respective countries.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers also agreed to improve alertness among ASEAN
\ncountries on the prevention of certain diseases, like the recent
\noutbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).<\/p>\n
According to Aisyah, ASEAN lawmakers agreed to share
\ninformation on the disease.<\/p>\n
Separately, Alvin Lie Ling Piao said that the committee
\nmeeting also agreed to urge the government of each ASEAN country
\nto impose penalties on individuals or manpower agencies that
\nmaltreated workers.<\/p>\n
The meeting also agreed to recommend each government to
\nimprove health facilities for poor citizens.<\/p>\n
The draft resolution would be brought to a plenary meeting of
\nthe ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO), scheduled for
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
AIPO delegates were scheduled to go to the Puncak resort, West
\nJava, on Wednesday. They will visit tea plantations and the
\nSafari Zoo.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the committee on political matters
\nshared views on the need to improve security within the ASEAN
\nregion in anticipation of the threat of terrorism and
\ntransnational crime.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers will only deal with legislative matters, not
\noperational ones. The committee will focus on the need to
\nestablish a security council among ASEAN countries.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, the committee on economic matters has also
\ndrafted a resolution on the need to create ASEAN legislation for
\nrealization of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).<\/p>\n
The draft calls for active participation of each AIPO member
\nlegislature in promoting and formulating common legal frameworks
\non trade and investment pursuant to a number of ASEAN agreements.<\/p>\n
Another resolution drafted by the committee was a resolution
\non economic cooperation and comprehensive partnership between
\nASEAN and East Asia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-tackle-issue-of-migrant-workers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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