A Social Charter for the ASEAN? Deepening Integration by Regionalizing Labor Solidarity and Social Standards

Author(s): 
Pages: 
14
Item Reference: 
O-2006/4
Collection: 
UNU-CRIS Occasional Papers
Publication Date: 
2006
Publication Place: 
Bruges
Publication Language: 
EN
Publisher: 
UNU-CRIS
Working Paper Type: 
Abstract: 

The number of migrant labor in the ASEAN, predominant in low-skilled work and many of whom are undocumented, reaches two-three million workers in the big receiving countries of Thailand and Malaysia alone. Increased FDI flows are also associated with greater movements of professional and skilled workers within the ASEAN region, but it is the movement of low- and unskilled workers that needs greater attention. Trade and investment liberalization in the region prompts restructuring across industries and employment sectors, giving rise to race-to-the-bottom issues. Such restructuring highlights further the importance of treating migration as integral rather than separate from labor and general social protection issues. The establishment of regional agreements on social protection and integration, with particular focus on migration and labor standards, will not only help increase the profile of ASEAN among ordinary citizens and facilitate its socialization but will recognize the economic nature of migration in the region. Mechanisms, though limited, are in place within the region to push for this agenda –from the opportunities provided by Track II discussions to regional coalition building – the challenge lies in making the issue an active concern in official ASEAN agenda. Given that intra-ASEAN trade lags behind ASEAN trade with big economies like China, South Korea and Japan, and that these countries receive a substantial number of ASEAN migrant labor, expansion of the agenda to include them is imperative and provides relevant confidence building opportunities towards the formation of an East Asian Community.