Asian urged to boost labor standards
Asian urged to boost labor standards
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Bangkok
The United Nations has called on governments across Asia to
improve their migrant labor policies, particularly as regards the
living standards of foreign migrants, in a bid to mitigate the
social upheavals that could be caused by their improper
treatment.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) told government officials, academics and lawmakers
attending a seminar here on Wednesday that the poor treatment of
migrant labor could affect bilateral or multilateral relations.
"The topic of the seminar is becoming increasingly important
for national development strategies and for bilateral and
regional discussions," UNESCAP executive secretary Kim Hak-su
said in a written statement read by his deputy, Shigeru Mochida.
The latest major case involved 300 Thai migrant workers
working on a mass rapid transit project in Kaoshing, Chinese
Taipei, going on a rampage, infuriated by substandard living
conditions. Meanwhile, Indonesian migrant workers in some
countries have gained a reputation for involvement in crime and
dishonoring their contracts.
Kim cited improved transport and communications
infrastructure, government policies facilitating labor migration,
and the development of government and private sector structures
as factors promoting greater migration.
Meanwhile, higher incomes in other countries was the main
attraction for people wanting to work overseas.
"The magnitude of international migration in the region is
increasing steadily as a result of continued disparities in
demographic dynamics and level of development among economies,"
Kim said.
"Their (migrant workers) remittances to some countries exceed
official development assistance or foreign direct investment in
those countries," he added.
The economic benefits, however, overshadowed the plight of
female migrant workers -- who constituted a high proportion of
migrants -- within the region. Female workers were more
vulnerable to exploitation and abuse because of the nature of
their jobs, concentrated mostly in the domestic help sector.
The seminar, which concludes on Friday, is set to discuss
topics such as recent trends in international migration in Asia
Pacific, labor migration policies and programs, health issues
associated with migration, and the social and economic
implications of international migration.
The participants will also discuss gender aspects of
migration, the treatment of migrants' children, and trafficking
and smuggling of migrants.
An Indonesian lawmaker, Chairun Nisa, told The Jakarta Post
here that the seminar was expected to draft recommendations for
action that need to be taken.
"This seminar is an important opportunity for manpower
officials to discuss the problems of Indonesian migrant workers
and forge cooperation with officials from other countries," she
said.
Regretting the absence of officials from the manpower
ministry, Nisa said that Indonesian manpower officials must do
more to protect workers, and it should start by overhauling the
recruitment process.