ASEAN commits to supporting Africa in NEPAD implementation

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) completely supports the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and commits to uniting with African countries to realise the UN Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063 for growth, prosperity and development of regional countries.

The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, on behalf of ASEAN countries at the 23rd meeting of the UN General Assembly on October 19.

The ASEAN appreciates the outcomes and progresses that African countries have made in the implementation of the NEPAD, especially in important areas such as economic development, infrastructure, agriculture, education and national governance, he stated.

However, the ASEAN also sees long-term challenges facing Africa, including agricultural productivity, food security, economic diversification and market access, along with the shortage of financial resources and the limited governance capacity during NEPAD implementation, he said.

According to the Ambassador, the ASEAN and Africa can exchange experience in a number of areas, especially in the implementation of the African Agenda 2063 and the ASEAN Joint Vision 2025, as well as the UN Agenda 2030, given many similarities in their development agendas. 

The two sides boast great potential for cooperation and connection, as well as sharing know-how in agriculture, education, information technology, trade, investment and infrastructure system, including through Triangle and South-South cooperation mechanisms, stated the diplomat.

He affirmed ASEAN’s commitments to continuing to work with friendly countries, partners, including those from Africa, to protect values of multilateralism, considering it as a joint mission of the entire mankind.

ASEAN calls on development partners, international financial institutions, regional and sub-regional organisations, as well as the international community to continue supporting African countries to pursue the goal of peace and sustainable development, as well as the continent’s efforts in implementing the NEPAD, he said.

NEPAD is a socio-economic development flagship programme of the African Union (AU), adopted by African leaders at the 37th Summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001.

Its four major objectives are to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, foster integration of Africa in the world economy, and accelerate the empowerment of women.

ADMM 12: ASEAN, dialogue partners strengthen defence cooperation

ASEAN defence officials at the 12th ADMM

Defence Ministers of the ASEAN bloc and eight dialogues partners (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the US) have agreed to step up collaboration to counter terrorist threats, and consolidate mutual trust and understanding.

This is the main content of the two joint statements issued in the framework of the 5th ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) taking place in Singapore on October 20.

The ministers reaffirmed ADMM-Plus as a key component of a robust, effective and open regional security architecture that promotes mutual trust and confidence among the defence establishments. 

They recognised that it is important for the ADMM Plus to put in place practical confidence-building measures that are in the spirit of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, to ensure the safety and security of the sea and air lanes that are critical for the region’s continued development and prosperity.

They reaffirmed their commitment to abide by the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) and implement the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972. 

They welcomed the ADMM’s adoption of the Guidelines for Air Military Encounters and its Operational Annexes on Observing Existing Aviation Conventions and Rules, Safe and Professional Communications, Standard Flight Procedures, and Encouraging Mutual Trust and Confidence in the Air. 

The ADMM Plus expresses support in principle for the initiative and intends to explore the application of these guidelines by the ADMM Plus in consultation with ADMM Plus countries  so as to ensure a safe, secure and peaceful operating environment in the aviation domain, the statement said. 

Regarding counter-terrorism cooperation, the ministers pledged to work together to explore new forms of collaboration to build ASEAN capabilities in tackling the threat of terrorism.

The ADMM Plus meeting also discussed and agreed on measures to bolster cooperative mechanism within ADMM-Plus, with an emphasis on ASEAN’s central role and responsibility of the partners. 

Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Foreign Relations Department under the Ministry of Defence, said that at the meeting, Vietnam presented specific recommendations to strengthen the collaborative ties between ASEAN and partner countries.

With China, Vietnam suggested the formation of direct communication lines between ASEAN and Chinese defence ministers, holding of the first ASEAN-China exchange of young officers, and establishment of a joint working group.

Vietnam proposed that the US help enhance capacity of ASEAN member states in the fields of sea security, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue work, and settlement of post-war consequences.

With Japan, Thang said that Vietnam affirmed its support for the implementation of Japan’s “Vientiane Vision” and asking the East Asian country to continue support for the ASEAN bloc in environmental protection, particularly water security.

In addition, Vietnam backed international efforts and extension of cooperation to prevent terrorism and terrorist sponsorship in any forms.

On the sidelines of the ADMM-Plus, there were informal meetings between ASEAN defence ministers and the US Secretary of Defence, and defence ministers of China and Japan, discussing ways to improve capacity for ASEAN and its member states, contributing to maintaining regional peace and stability.

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh meets Vatican leaders

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Pope Francis

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on October 20 had meetings with Pope Francis and Secretary of State of the Vatican City Cardinal Pietro Parolin on October 20 during his working trip to the city state.

The Deputy PM conveyed thanks from Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and the family of late President Tran Dai Quang to the Pope for extending condolences over the death of the President and sending a representative to Vietnam to pay last respects to the deceased.

He informed the Pope on Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, emphasizing that they are the results of the joint efforts of all Vietnamese, including the religious community.

Deputy PM Binh affirmed that Vietnam constantly works to perfect its policy on respecting and ensuring the freedom of religion and belief for all Vietnamese, and offering favourable conditions for religions to operate in line with their charters and statutes and in accordance with the law. This can be clearly seen in the all-round development and diverse activities of religions in Vietnam, including the Vietnam Catholic Church. 

Pope Francis welcomed the visit by Deputy PM Binh, describing it as an important new step of development helping enhance mutual understanding and thus further promoting the ties between Vietnam and the Vatican in the time ahead. 

He recalled the good memory about his meetings with Vietnam’s leaders in the past years and expressed joy at the positive developments in Vatican-Vietnam ties. 

The Pope thanked the Government and authorities at all levels of Vietnam for facilitating activities of the Vietnam Catholic Church and the Vatican’s non-resident envoy to Vietnam.  

He stressed that the Vietnam Catholic Church should better implement the motto of “Living the Gospel amid the nation” set by the Vietnam Episcopal Council and the Pope’s teaching that “a good Catholic is a good citizen.”

The Pope encouraged Vietnamese Catholic followers and dignitaries to participate in common activities and make active contributions to the development of the nation and the church. 

The Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam appreciates and respects the instructions and teachings of the Pope and the Holy See towards the Vietnamese Catholic community. He expressed the hope that the Holy See will guide the Vietnam Catholic Church and Vietnamese Catholic community in following the Pope’s teachings, adding that Vietnam stands ready to work with the Vatican to enhance bilateral ties. 

During his meeting with the Vatican Secretary of State, Deputy PM Binh stressed that Vietnam always creates the best conditions for religions, including Catholic, to operate on an equal basis and in accordance with the law.

Vietnam attaches importance to and wants to promote ties with the Vatican on the basis of respect for principles on relations among nations, meeting the aspirations and interests of both sides, Binh said.  

Pietro Parolin said the Vatican always encourages the Vietnam Catholic Church to contribute actively to national construction and defence.  

The two sides exchanged views on important issues in bilateral ties and affirmed the need to maintain high-level meetings and regular dialogues at all levels. 

They discussed and reached agreement on the directions for strengthening Vietnam-Vatican ties towards elevating the relationship from the level of non-resident envoy to resident envoy in the time ahead. They assigned the joint working group to make preparations for the 7th meeting to discuss the issue in details. 

Deputy PM Binh conveyed an invitation from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Secretary of State Parolin to visit Vietnam, which the latter accepted with pleasure.

Deputy PM visits Embassy in Italy

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (standing) visits the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy. 

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and a delegation of the Vietnamese Government on October 20 visited priests and practitioners at the Phat Diem guest house in Rome within the framework of their visit to Vatican from October 18-20.

They also had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, representatives of the Vietnamese community and the association of Vietnamese businesspeople in Italy.

Ambassador Cao Chinh Thien reported to Deputy PM Binh on the Vietnam – Italy relations over the recent past, the work by the Embassy as well as the situation of the Vietnamese community in the host country. The diplomat held that the Vietnam – Italy strategic partnership, since its establishment in 2013, has reaped positive progress in all fields, from economy, politics to culture, education and tourism.

Deputy PM Binh briefed the participants on the situation and a number of prominent achievements in the socio – economic development in Vietnam in the recent years and the first nine months of this year. He took note of the efforts by the Embassy staff in bringing into full play the solidarity and in accomplishing their tasks as well as pushing up the relations between the two countries.

Binh asked the Embassy to bring into full play its role as a bridge linking the two nations and to pay due attention to the Vietnamese community in Italy, helping them maintain the national cultural identity, clearly understand the domestic reality and turn their hearts to the Motherland. He also briefed them on the outcomes of the visit to Vatican.

The Deputy PM affirmed Vietnam’s persistent policy of taking the Vietnamese community as an inseparable part of the nation, and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in Italy would remain united, support one another and make active contributions to the national building and development. He also answered many questions raised by representatives of the community.

U.S. defense secretary visits former AO site in Vietnam

United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis visits Bien Hoa Airport to check a U.S.-funded US$390-million dioxin cleanup project, located in the southern province of Dong Nai, on October 17 – PHOTO: THANH NIEN

United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis today, October 17, made a visit to Bien Hoa Airport – a former air base for U.S. forces storing chemical defoliant Agent Orange, which is blamed for birth defects and cancers among a million Vietnamese – in the southern province of Dong Nai.

The U.S. cabinet official arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, his second visit this year to the country, in an effort to boost bilateral relations between the two nations, reported local media.

This morning, Mattis visited Bien Hoa Airport to check a U.S.-funded US$390-million project to clean up war-era chemical contamination of the ground at this air base near HCMC.

Under a 10-year remediation effort led by the U.S Agency for International Development, work on the project is set to start next year on cleaning up this dioxin hotspot.

The U.S. agency is working with the Air Defense and Air Force Service under Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense in addressing war consequences while fostering bilateral economic, cultural and security relations.

The area was one of the main staging grounds for storing and deploying the poisonous defoliant in the late 1960s and early 1970s – this chemical is feared to have seeped into groundwater, rivers and the local food chain.

A carcinogenic dioxin byproduct of Agent Orange has affected multiple generations in Vietnam, most visibly in children whose severe mental and physical disabilities from enlarged heads to deformed limbs have been linked to the chemical.

Up to three million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, and one million suffer grave health repercussions today, including at least 150,000 children with in-born defects.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of Defense met with Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The city’s Party chief said Vietnam wishes to further promote the bilateral comprehensive partnership on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political regime for the benefit of the two peoples, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the wider world.

He thanked Mattis for his contributions to the detoxification project at Danang and Bien Hoa airports, affirming that Vietnam will work closely with the U.S. to continue those activities, along with the search for ex-servicemen missing during the war still unaccounted for.

On the occasion, he also expressed thanks to the U.S. for supporting Vietnam in joining the United Nations peacekeeping mission, especially work regarding the field hospital and personnel training at Military Hospital 175.

In early October, the first delegation of Vietnamese medical staff was sent to South Sudan to join the UN peacekeeping mission, he noted.

Mattis, for his part, said the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive partnership will bring benefits to both sides and contribute to peace and stability in the region.

U.S. firms now invest in 390 projects worth US$1.2 billion in HCMC, ranking 10th among foreign investors in the city. The U.S. remains the largest export market for the city with two-way trade of US$8.2 billion in 2017.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, who is expected to meet with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich later today, also plans to attend the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Singapore later this week.

ASEAN sets up network for handling new security challenges

Heads of delegations to the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting pose for a photo 

ASEAN defence ministers convened their 12th meeting in Singapore on October 19, agreeing to establish a network for responding to new security challenges posed by chemical, biological, and radiological threats.

Top defence officials of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attended the meeting. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission.

Addressing the event, Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen emphasised the importance of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in the regional architecture as it helps promote strategic dialogue and practical cooperation among ASEAN members.

Aside from agreeing to set up a network for coping with new security challenges, the ministers also pledged to push ahead with fighting terrorism on the basis of defence and military cooperation, and coordinating in joint sea and air exercises to minimise unexpected damage and prevent tension escalations.

They also reached a consensus towards investing efforts in implementing the “Our Eyes” initiative on sharing intelligence information in the region.

The ministers reiterated the importance of solidarity and unity in the ASEAN bloc to effectively cope with common security challenges.

In the context of a rapidly changing strategic complexion, they stressed that ASEAN needs to continue enhancing cooperation with major partners to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Concluding the 12th ADMM, the ministers issued a joint statement affirming the commitment to keeping peace and stability in the region and fostering cooperation to deal with current security challenges. 

Vietnam, Italy seek to promote judicial cooperation

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (R) presents souvenir to Judge Sebastiano Ardita 

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh had a meeting with leaders of the Italian High Council of Judiciary in Rome on October 19.

Vice Standing President of the council, Judge Sebastiano Ardita briefed his guest of the organisation and its functions, missions, operations, as well as the role of the council in the judicial system of Italy.

He affirmed that the council is willing to cooperate and share experience with Vietnam on the building of its judicial system and ensuring its effective operation. The council is also interested in finding out more on the experience of countries with numerous judicial reforms, including Vietnam and some East European countries.

He lauded the achievements of the Vietnam-Italy relationship over the past 45 years, especially since the two sides set up bilateral strategic partnership.

The Italian official congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in development and international integration in recent years, as well as its progress in judicial reform towards building a democratic and modern judicial system.

For his part, Deputy PM Binh briefed his host on the judicial system of Vietnam, as well as the outcomes of the country’s judicial reform over the past few years, especially through the Judicial Reform Strategy for 2020 with an aim to making the sector stronger, more democratic and modern; protecting justice and human rights; and serving the people and nation.

He lauded the role of the Italian High Council of Judiciaries and expressed hope to strengthen cooperation, experience sharing, and technical support in the judicial sphere for the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed on the need to enhance cooperation between the two governments as well as the two judicial bodies. They also stressed the significance of the signing of a cooperation deal between the Supreme Courts of Vietnam and Italy.

The same day, Deputy Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam Le Hong Quang had a meeting with his Italian counterpart to seek cooperation orientations in the future, especially in human resources training and the sharing of experience and information in judicial management, as well as information technology application in the field. 

Measures put forth to boost Vietnam – Hong Kong ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi (L) and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor at their meeting on October 19

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi suggested measures to enhance multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hong Kong (China) during his meeting with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor on October 19 as part of his working visit to the region.

The first measure is boosting delegation exchanges, he said, adding that the two sides should consider the building of a coordination mechanism for the exchange of high-ranking delegations, including those from each other’s ministries, sectors and localities. He welcomed his host to visit Vietnam soon.

The second one is increasing practical partnerships in economy, investment, finance, trade and service. 

Khoi said Vietnam is going through a shift in its economic development model and step by step equitising its state-run enterprises. The country welcomes Hong Kong businesses to engage in the process and invest more in Vietnam’s infrastructure projects.

The diplomat highlighted the enhancement of people-to-people exchange as the third measure, as Vietnam and Hong Kong share a close geographical distance and cultural similarities.

Pointing to the fact that the exchange between the sides mostly takes place via the tourism channel, Khoi suggested expanding to other channels such as education, sports, and human resources. 

He requested the Hong Kong authorities conduct measures to clear visa application hurdles for Vietnamese.

For her part, Carrie Lam said Hong Kong values Vietnam’s position and role, adding that she will visit the country in a suitable time.

Saying the two economies supplement each other, she affirmed Hong Kong is willing to boost cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in finance and logistics.

Concerning tourism cooperation, she considered Vietnam’s nice landscapes and many sea ports a basis for increasing bilateral partnerships in the field. 

Hong Kong will consider creating conditions for Vietnamese citizens to enter the region as tourists and investors based on the effective resolution of illegal immigration between the sides.

Vietnam contributes to discussion of int’l law development

 Director-General of the Department of Law and International Treaty under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Tuyet Mai speaks at the 57th Annual Session of the AALCO (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

A Vietnamese delegation attended the 57th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), which took place in Tokyo, Japan, on October 8-12.

The inter-ministerial delegation, led by Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Director-General of the Department of Law and International Treaty under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actively joined the AALCO discussions and related events.

The delegation underlined Vietnam’s stance of upholding the rule of law and settling disputes through peaceful measures, along with maintaining regional and global peace and implementing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in line with international law, particularly the United Nations (UN) Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Vietnamese delegates also updated the country’s all-out efforts to work with ASEAN countries and partners to strengthen the rule-based development of the ASEAN Community and to call for the sides not to resort to violence, thus building Southeast Asia into a region of peace, stability and prosperity.

Vietnam is also obliged to international commitments and spares no efforts to promote responsible fishery management and fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, they noted. 

The country has issued regulations on cyber security in line with international law, which aims to build a safe cyberspace causing no harm to national security, social order and safety, legitimate rights and benefits of agencies, organisations and individuals. 

This year, Vietnam ratified and became the 10th member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as well as took part in the inter-governmental conference on building legal documents abiding to the UNCLOS 1982.

Vietnam officially became the 47th member of the AALCO on February 24, 2017, marking a new development step in the country’s international integration, especially in legal sector. 

AALCO, originally known as the Asian Legal Consultative Committee (ALCC), was constituted on November 15, 1956. It is considered to be a tangible outcome of the historic Bandung Conference held in Indonesia in April 1955. 

As the only international organisation in the world promoting solidarity among Asian and African countries in the field of international law, AALCO has involved the codification and development of international law. It gave opinion to the completion of the UNCLOS 1982.

The organisation now groups 47 member nations in both Asia and Africa.

Vietnamese Party delegation visits India

The meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam delegation and Indian Minister of Culture Mahesh Sharma 

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Nam province, is paying a working visit to India from October 16-20 to strengthen partnership between the CPV and Indian political parties.

The visit, part of the Vietnam-India guest of honour programme, is also a chance for the central province to boost economic, cultural, and tourism cooperation with the Indian side.

During the event, Quang paid courtesy calls to General Secretary of the Communist Party of India Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary of the (Marxist) Communist Party of India Sitaram Yechury, and member of the Politburo of the Indian National Congress Anand Sharma.

He also had meetings with Indian Minister of Culture Mahesh Sharma, and Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh.

During the meetings, the Indian side showed their hope to further strengthen their relationship with the Party and Government of Vietnam, especially in culture and tourism. 

They affirmed that the party exchange channel through the guest of honour programme contributes to creating a reliable political foundation for the promotion of economic and trade affiliation, as well as people-to-people contacts and cooperation in other areas, thus expanding the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

During their stay, the Vietnamese delegation visited some cultural and historical relics of India to learn of the nation’s experience in preserving and restoring such sites.

HCM City hopes for stronger ties with Shanghai People’s Congress

Officials of the HCM City People’s Council and the Shanghai People’s Congress pose for a photo 

Ho Chi Minh City wants to enhance relations between its People’s Council and the municipal People’s Congress of the Chinese city of Shanghai, an official of the Vietnamese city has said.

Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City People’s Council Truong Thi Anh received Vice Chairman of the Shanghai People’s Congress Xu Zezhou on October 19.

The host official said the Shanghai delegation’s working visit will help strengthen relations between the two cities, including between the HCM City People’s Council and the Shanghai People’s Congress.

She noted that over the past few years, relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of China, as well as between the two countries, have enjoyed great strides. As such, the publicly-elected bodies of HCM City and Shanghai are obliged to further tighten links across all spheres.

The HCM City People’s Council hopes to reinforce connections with the Shanghai People’s Congress through the exchange of experience so as to contribute to bilateral economic ties, Anh added.

For his part, Xu said the people of his city also want to develop their friendship with HCM City. Both cities are populous and share many similarities in history, the role in their respective countries’ economies, along with challenges facing their development, especially in terms of environmental pollution and sustainable development problems.

He voiced his hope that the people’s representative agencies will step up joint activities such as exchanging delegations and sharing experience in making decisions and monitoring executive bodies’ performance, thereby promoting other cooperation activities between the two cities.

At the working session, the two sides also introduced the structure and activities of the HCM City People’s Council and the Shanghai People’s Congress to one another. 

Social security in ASEAN hard to streamline

ASEAN countries should enhance their bilateral or multilateral cooperation in ensuring social security for migrant workers in the region. However, it has been challenging to develop a regional system of social and health insurance as each member country uses a different insurance system, said Pham Do Nhat Tan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association of Manpower Supply.

Nguyen Thi Dieu Hong, a social welfare expert, agreed on this point, saying on the sidelines of a seminar on immigrant laborers in late September that in Singapore and Malaysia, the social security program focuses on the concept of individual accounts, while other countries develop common insurance funds, for which workers, employers and the State share the potential risks.

In addition, the social welfare systems in some countries are not efficient enough and offer limited coverage.

Tan proposed piloting a united social insurance system in two ASEAN countries with equivalent systems and then expanding the program to other nations.

At first, countries should issue regulations allowing both legal and illegal migrant workers to be covered by health and accident insurance, Tan added.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), there are as many as 14 million migrant laborers from ASEAN countries, including six million workers who have moved within the ASEAN region. 

A report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs showed that more than 76,000 Vietnamese laborers are working in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.

The figure is lower than the respective number of workers from Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. However, the number of laborers working within the ASEAN region has increased continuously over the last few years.

Anna Engblom, senior project coordinator of the “Tripartite Action to Enhance the Contribution of Labor Migration to Growth and Development in ASEAN” project, said at a recent conference on intra-bloc immigration that the past 25 years had seen a threefold increase in the number of migrants within the ASEAN. Most of these workers are illegal immigrants who find it difficult to access the social welfare system of the countries in which they work.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has gradually removed obstacles to allow highly skilled workers to move freely within the bloc. However, eligible professions, allowing workers to move freely within the AEC, account for a mere 1% of the total.

Meanwhile, the demand for unskilled and low-skilled workers is high. In Thailand, for example, the demand for low-skilled laborers is five to six times higher than the need for highly skilled ones.

Migrant workers have contributed significantly to developing the economy and reducing poverty in both their home countries and the host countries.

However, the AEC currently has no regulations on the movement of unskilled and low-skilled laborers within the ASEAN region, which can pose a high risk to laborers and put pressure on the countries’ social welfare system.

According to a study by the ILO in December last year, based on interviews with 1,800 people who had returned to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam after working in Thailand and Malaysia, more than half had worked illegally in Thailand and 12% had worked illegally in Malaysia. Most of them had performed hard labor in the agriculture and construction sectors.

Social well-being policies in the region remain poor, stated Markus Ruck, senior specialist on social security at the ILO Sub-regional Office for South Asia, adding that this was due to the differences in countries’ regulations and the lack of agreement among them.