Employers in Southeast Asia support safer migration and recruitment

MANILA, Philippines (ILO News) – Employers across Southeast Asia have called for safer and more predictable labour migration systems as governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations and other stakeholders agreed on measures to strengthen recruitment, tackle online fraud and exploitation, and improve access to remedy for migrant workers across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Migrant workers play an important role in ASEAN economies, helping businesses meet labour and skills needs and supporting regional supply chains. Responsible recruitment is also increasingly linked to responsible business conduct, human rights due diligence (HRDD) and trade, making well-functioning migration systems important for both workers and businesses.

These issues were at the centre of the 19th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML), held on 14–15 October in Manila under the theme “Protection of Migrant Workers through Regular and Safe Migration Pathways.”

Participants agreed on 30 recommendations for regional action, with a strong focus on the opportunities and risks created by digital recruitment. While online platforms make it easier for employers and workers to connect across borders, they can also expose workers and legitimate businesses to fraudulent advertisements, impersonation, deceptive offers and illegal recruitment.

The recommendations call on ASEAN Member States to strengthen the governance of online recruitment and clarify the responsibilities of recruitment actors, digital platforms and social media companies. They also propose guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in recruitment to address emerging risks.

Online platforms and social media companies are encouraged to verify employer and recruiter identities and the authorization of job advertisements, including recruitment promoted through influencers, content creators, sub-agents and other intermediaries.

“Migration is a critical issue for employers across ASEAN. Businesses need safe and regular migration pathways that allow them to access the workers and skills they need, while giving workers confidence that jobs are legitimate and recruitment is fair. Stronger verification can help create a more predictable recruitment environment, reduce exposure to fraudulent intermediaries and support fair competition between legitimate businesses,” said Mrs. Siriwan Romchatthong, Secretary General of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT), representing the ASEAN Confederation of Employers (ACE) at the Forum.

Migration is a critical issue for employers across ASEAN. Businesses need safe and regular migration pathways that allow them to access the workers and skills they need, while giving workers confidence that jobs are legitimate and recruitment is fair. Stronger verification can help create a more predictable recruitment environment, reduce exposure to fraudulent intermediaries and support fair competition between legitimate businesses. Mrs. Siriwan Romchatthong, Secretary General of the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT)

The Forum also recommended secure government-facilitated recruitment portals, regularly updated registers of licensed recruitment agencies, and mechanisms for verifying employers, job orders and employment offers across countries of origin and destination. It called for clearer responsibilities throughout recruitment chains and practical guidance and peer learning, including for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Digital literacy was another priority, with increased public and private investment recommended to help migrant workers, their families and employers recognize phishing, impersonation and AI-generated deceptive job advertisements.

Beyond recruitment, the recommendations call for stronger protection and access to remedy for migrant workers who experience fraud, trafficking, forced labour and other forms of exploitation. This includes safe complaints mechanisms, protection against retaliation, access to legal assistance, wage recovery and compensation, as well as better ways for workers to pursue claims across borders or after returning home.

For employers, effective remedy is also an important part of responsible business conduct and managing risks in increasingly complex regional and global supply chains.

Implementation will now be critical, with governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, recruitment actors and digital platforms all having a role in turning the recommendations into practical improvements.

Progress will be shared at the 20th AFML to be held in Singapore in 2027.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.