Standards needed before liberalizing ASEAN labor markets
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara
Ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) apparently will not liberalize their labor market in the immediate future, due to their different working conditions and the absence of a regional standard for competence.
"The liberalization of the labor market is entrusted to each member country, and no member country can force others to open their labor markets, as it depends on the laws in their countries and the quality of their human resources," Jacob Nuwa Wea, chairman of the ASEAN Labor Ministerial Meeting (ALMM), said during a press conference at the close of the two-day meeting here on Friday.
Nuwa Wea, also the manpower minister, explained that the issue of labor market liberalization was discussed intensely during the three-day ASEAN Senior Labor Officials Meeting (SLOM) and the ALMM, but it was unlikely to result in a free labor market immediately.
Malaysian Deputy Minister of Labor Abdul Latiff Ahmad concurred and said Malaysia principally supported the liberalization of the labor market in the region, but it was unlikely to do so at present because of the differing labor condition and quality of human resources of the member countries.
"To liberalize the labor market in the ASEAN region, a standard labor competence for all kinds of jobs is needed, and all ASEAN member countries should adopt a mutual recognition of certified labor skills that are regionally accepted.
"But, we have to accept the fact that there are still different standards of skill and expertise in the respective countries. We need a further discussion on it, so that the issue (labor market liberalization) will benefit all member countries and their workers," he said.
He noted that ASEAN could not adopt the same strategy as the European Union in liberalizing the labor market, because the quality of workers among ASEAN countries varied greatly.
ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong said it was difficult at present to allow workers to move freely in the region because liberalizing the labor market required a regional standard of skill and professionalism.
"ASEAN has to take appropriate measures to handle this crucial issue, and it is important for us to find a good balance to create jobs for all people with regulations, as well as to set labor standards," he said, saying that it would be very difficult to set standards of competence for unskilled workers.
Nuwa Wea said that all delegations agreed to seek Australia's assistance to study the possibility of setting a standard of competence for all jobs, to allow workers to freely move from one country to another in the region.
ASEAN has already successfully liberalized its trade markets, beginning in January of this year.
The grouping, however, has not yet touched the service sectors, which are still being worked out under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services, which also covers labor issues.
Indonesia and the Philippines, the two main exporters of workers in the region, are the strongest advocates of the liberalization of the region's labor markets.
Indonesian workers have flooded into Malaysia to work in the plantation and construction sectors, as well as to work as domestic helpers. Many Indonesians also work in Singapore as maids.
The ASEAN labor ministers also agreed that their senior officials should hold a special meeting in the Philippines soon to take necessary measures to combat the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that has plagued the region, as well as to mitigate its toll on the regional population and economy.
The ministers also emphasized the importance of exchanging experience and information in controlling and containing the disease's spread in the region, saying that comprehensive and stringent measures by affected ASEAN member countries were necessary to prevent a possible adverse impact on workers and the labor condition.
Nuwa Wea said that the special meeting was expected to provide information on SARS to ministerial-level task forces and various national focal points, which would organize the meeting and take appropriate action.
Philippine's Minister of Labor Patricia A. Sto. Thomas confirmed after the meeting that she accepted ALMM's request for the Philippine government to host the meeting and the special senior official meeting would likely be held on June 23 in Manila.