OIM - Advancing Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development in ASEAN de 2025

Advancing Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development

in ASEAN:

Unlocking Opportunities for Migrant Workers through the Vientiane DeclarationThe opinions and views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views or policies of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) or the International Labour Organization (ILO). The designations employed in the publication, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material throughout the publication do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM or the ILO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. This publication was made possible through support provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada under the terms of the TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, the Republic of Korea Government under the terms of the ILO/Korea Partnership programme and the Swiss Confederation through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation under the terms of the project Poverty Reduction and through Safe Migration, Skills Development and Enhanced Job Placement in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Thailand (PROMISE Phase II). The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views or policies of, the Australian Government, the Government of Canada, the Government of Republic of Korea or the Swiss Government.

Publisher: Cover photo: Migrant workers participating in a construction skills training in Bangkok, Thailand.

© I OM 2022/ Rachaphon RIANSIRI Required citation: International Organization for Migration (IOM) and International Labour Organization (ILO), (2025). A dvancing Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development in ASEAN: Unlocking Opportunities for Migrant Workers through the Vientiane Declaration. IOM and ILO, Geneva. International Organization for Migration 17 route des Morillons P.O. Box 17 1211 Geneva 19 Switzerland

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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcodeAdvancing Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development

in ASEAN:

Unlocking Opportunities for Migrant Workers through

the IOM Publications Unit at publications@iom.int . https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/legalcodeAdvancing Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development

in ASEAN:

Unlocking Opportunities for Migrant Workers through the Vientiane DeclarationFOREWORD Labour migration is a powerful driver of development across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Migrant workers contribute significantly to both origin and destination countries, filling labour market gaps, advancing economic productivity, and supporting the wellbeing of their families and communities through remittances and skills transfer. Yet, too often, their skills go unrecognized, underutilized or unrewarded. The Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers, adopted at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in October 2024, marks a major step forward. By setting out a shared, voluntary framework, the Declaration reflects ASEAN Member States’ commitment to enhancing labour mobility pathways, recognizing and developing migrant workers’ skills, and promoting decent work. This joint initiative, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through the PROMISE programme, and by the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme and the ILO-Korea Partnership programme, aims to ensure that migration is not only safe and orderly, but also dignified, transformative and empowering. This report, developed in support of the Declaration and its accompanying Checklist, presents a comprehensive analysis of the current challenges and opportunities in advancing skills mobility across ASEAN. It identifies critical policy gaps and offers practical recommendations to strengthen labour migration governance through a skills lens. It also draws on lessons learned from ILO and IOM’s long-standing collaboration with ASEAN Member States, employers’ and workers’ organizations, civil society and other regional partners. The report underscores that enabling skills recognition and development at every stage of the migration cycle — from pre-departure training to reintegration — can lead to better employment outcomes, stronger social and economic inclusion and more resilient labour markets. Importantly,

organizations, civil society and other regional partners. The report underscores that enabling skills recognition and development at every stage of the migration cycle — from pre-departure training to reintegration — can lead to better employment outcomes, stronger social and economic inclusion and more resilient labour markets. Importantly, it also reinforces the rights-based and gender-responsive foundations of the Vientiane Declaration, ensuring that no migrant worker is left behind. We hope this publication serves as a useful resource for policymakers, practitioners and partners across the region in taking forward the vision of the Vientiane Declaration. Moving from commitment to implementation will require sustained political will, cross-sectoral collaboration, and investment in systems that place migrant workers’ skills and mobility at the centre.

We thank the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for their leadership in developing the Vientiane Declaration during their term as the 2024–2025 Chair of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. We also thank ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat and regional partners for their support and collaboration in this initiative. Together, we can unlock the full potential of skills mobility to benefit migrants, employers and societies across ASEAN. Kaori Nakamura-Osaka Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific International Labour Organization Iori Kato Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific International Organization for Migration III ADVANCING SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION, AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEANACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This publication was developed by consultants Julia Oliveira, Harald Meier and Michael Morlok from the Orange and Teal consultancy with substantive inputs from the ILO and IOM. The research project was coordinated by Vivian Liang, Maximilian Pottler and Winnie Sachdev from IOM. The contributors to this publication include Marja Paavilainen, Akiko Sakamoto, Marie Thomas and consultants Richard Horne and Irene Isaac from the ILO, and Vivian Liang,

research project was coordinated by Vivian Liang, Maximilian Pottler and Winnie Sachdev from IOM. The contributors to this publication include Marja Paavilainen, Akiko Sakamoto, Marie Thomas and consultants Richard Horne and Irene Isaac from the ILO, and Vivian Liang, Maximilian Pottler, Geertrui Lanneau and Winnie Sachdev from IOM. The report was further developed and finalized by Orange and Teal and Marja Paavilainen. Additional reviews were provided by Nilim Baruah, Anna Engblom, Chonticha Tangworamongkon in the ILO and Pukchanok Pattanatabud in IOM. This report was developed to support the development of the ASEAN Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers and its Checklist, adopted at the forty-fourth and forty-fifth ASEAN Summits in October 2024. The research team is especially grateful for the feedback and guidance provided by ASEAN Member States’ focal points to Senior Labour Officials Meetings, ASEAN Committee on the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW), employers and workers’ organizations, and civil society organizations during consultation workshops held in April and June 2024. Special thanks are due to the ASEAN Secretariat, particularly Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Director of Human Development Directorate Rodora T. Babaran, Assistant Director and Head of Labour and Civil Service Division Mega Irena, Senior Officer Carl Rookie O. Daquio, and Officer

M. Alvin Pahlevi, who offered valuable insights that greatly contributed to the development of this report.

Finally, the authors would like to thank Zeina Wairoa for her assistance with copy-editing and Wirakorn Bunnag for designing the report. Financial support for the research was provided by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Global Affairs Canada through the ILO’s TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through IOM’s

Wirakorn Bunnag for designing the report. Financial support for the research was provided by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Global Affairs Canada through the ILO’s TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation through IOM’s PROMISE programme and the Ministry of Employment and Labour in Korea through the ILO/ Korea Partnership Programme. IV

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACMW

ACRA ECOT MLVT ISCO ILS IOM ATC COD ILMS BLMA COO ILO AFML AMS ASEAN AQRF ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies Employers’ Confederation of Thailand International Standard Classification of Occupations International Labour Standards International Organization for Migration Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (Cambodia) ASEAN TVET Council country of destination International Labour Migration Statistics Bilateral Labour Migration Agreement country of origin International Labour Organization ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour ASEAN Member States Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework

ACRONYMS

MoU Memorandum of Understanding MRA TVET

UN DESA

UNDP MRS SDG TPQI RPL SMP Mutual Recognition Agreement Technical and vocational education and training United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations Development Programme mutual recognition of skills Sustainable Development Goal Thailand Professional Qualification Institute recognition of prior learning Skills mobility partnerships V

ADVANCING SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION,

AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEANCONTENTS

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

ACRONYMS

LIST OF BOXES

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Development of the Vientiane Declaration

and its Checklist

1.2 About this paper

2. KEY CONCEPTS AND FRAMEWORKS

2.1 ASEAN frameworks on labour migration and skills

2.2 Relevant International frameworks

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Development of the Vientiane Declaration

and its Checklist

1.2 About this paper

2. KEY CONCEPTS AND FRAMEWORKS

2.1 ASEAN frameworks on labour migration and skills

2.2 Relevant International frameworks

2.3 Definition of key terms

2.4 Skills and the labour migration cycle

3. CURRENT CHALLENGES

3.1 Limited skills mobility, especially for middle-skilled

migrant workers

3.1.1 Labour market data on skills levels of employed

migrant workers

3.1.2 Limited pathways for mid-skilled labour migration in

the region

3.1.3 MoUs do not cater for middle-skilled labour

migration

3.1.4 Recruitment processes are mostly carried out

without skills recognition

3.2 Limited access to formal skills development and certification

3.2.1 Migrant workers’ education attainment

III VII IV IX V X 1 5 10 6 11 14 17 21 22 25 27 27 18 18 3 4 VI CONTENTS3.2.2 Limited access to skills development in countries

of destination

3.2.3 Limited access to skills certification before and after

return home

4. WHY SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION AND

DEVELOPMENT MATTER

4.1 Skills have become the new currency

4.2 Skills needs will continue to evolve in a changing world

4.2.1 Technological advancements

4.2.2 Demographic shifts

4.2.3 Climate change

4.2.4 The diverse impact of changes across ASEAN

4.2.1 Technological advancements

4.2.2 Demographic shifts

4.2.3 Climate change

4.2.4 The diverse impact of changes across ASEAN

5. THE WAY FORWARD

5.1 Skills mobility and skills recognition in admission policies

and recruitment

5.1.1 Skills recognition in admission policies

5.1.2 Skills recognition in recruitment

5.1.3 Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding to facilitate migration at different skills levels

5.1.4 Creating Skills Mobility Partnerships (SMPs)

5.2 Skills development, assessment and certification

5.2.1 Strengthening the education and training systems,

especially Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)

5.2.2 Ensuring comprehensive and non-discriminatory

access to skills and career development

5.2.3 Development of skills standards, curricula and

assessment criteria

5.3 Fair recruitment and decent work

5.4 Developing labour market information systems and

exchanging information on migration

5.5 Bilateral and regional cooperation

6. RECOMMENDATIONS

7. REFERENCES

35 36 37 37 37 39 39 41 42 42 44 46 48 51 51 52 53 54 55 55 57 60 30 33 countries VII ADVANCING SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION, AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEANBox 1. Existing ASEAN skills initiatives to facilitate skills recognition and development Box 2. The Philippines – Singapore MoU on the recruitment of Filipino health-care workers to Singapore Box 3. Integrating skills development in bilateral migration arrangements

AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEANBox 1. Existing ASEAN skills initiatives to facilitate skills recognition and development Box 2. The Philippines – Singapore MoU on the recruitment of Filipino health-care workers to Singapore Box 3. Integrating skills development in bilateral migration arrangements Box 4. Skills recognition for middle-skilled migrant workers in Singapore Box 5. Access to Skills Development Fund in Thailand Box 6. Domestic work: the need for the recognition of the “invisible” skills Box 7. Framework Agreement for Assistance and Cooperation in Immigration Matters between Colombia and Peru, 6 March 2012 (extracts) Box 8. Agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Ecuador for the Regulation and Control of Migratory Flows, 29 May 2001 (extracts) Box 9. Skills modules in Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements (BLMAs) or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) Box 10. Skills Mobility Partnership pilot between Cambodia and Thailand Box 11. Skills Mobility Partnership Tunisia and Switzerland Box 12. Recognition of Prior Learning

LIST OF BOXES

8 24 24 26 31 38 45 46 47 49 50 53 VIII CONTENTSFigure 6. Level of educational attainment, working-age migrants and non-migrants, selected countries of destination Figure 7. Level of educational attainment of working-age migrants in selected countries of destination, by sex Figure 8. Skills developed while abroad (n=1,808) Figure 9. Skills usage upon return (n=1,238) Figure 10. Perceived barriers to the adoption of new technologies Figure 11. Population projection, South-East Asia Figure 1. Total intra-ASEAN international migration (2020) Figure 2. Number of intra-ASEAN migrants in ASEAN countries 1990–2020 Figure 3. Skills in the labour migration cycle Figure 4. Occupational skill levels of employed migrants and non-migrants, in selected countries of destination. Figure 5. Occupational skill levels of employed migrant

Figure 2. Number of intra-ASEAN migrants in ASEAN countries 1990–2020 Figure 3. Skills in the labour migration cycle Figure 4. Occupational skill levels of employed migrants and non-migrants, in selected countries of destination. Figure 5. Occupational skill levels of employed migrant workers in selected countries of destination, by sex

LIST OF FIGURES

2 3 16 20 20 28 29 32 34 36 37 IX

ADVANCING SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION,

AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEAN13

22 23 33 Table 1. ILO’s International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) Table 2. Selected main work permits by skills level Table 3. Intra-ASEAN MoUs Table 4. Migrant workers’ access to skills training and recognition LIST OF TABLES X LISTS OF TABLESMyanmar migrant construction workers attending a workplace training in Bangkok, Thailand © ILO/Pichit Phromkade

INTRODUCTION

1With over 600 million residents and the world’s third-largest labour force, SouthEast Asia is on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2050 (ASEAN and Allurentis, 2022). Labour migration is an established feature in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. It plays a crucial role in enhancing ASEAN economies and societies, addressing labour shortages and providing overseas employment opportunities in countries of destination, advancing socioeconomic development and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ASEAN Member States have been collaborating on the protection of migrant workers’ rights and skills development and recognition for more than a decade and have achieved significant results in both areas. However, further cooperative efforts among States are needed to integrate skills recognition of migrant workers into labour migration governance frameworks and arrangements in the region. The Vientiane

workers’ rights and skills development and recognition for more than a decade and have achieved significant results in both areas. However, further cooperative efforts among States are needed to integrate skills recognition of migrant workers into labour migration governance frameworks and arrangements in the region. The Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers fills an important policy gap. The Declaration, adopted at the forty-fourth and forty-fifth ASEAN Summits in October 2024 provides a framework for enhanced regional labour mobility and skills recognition for migrant workers at all skill levels across ASEAN. International migration considerably influences ASEAN Member States, each experiencing it in distinct ways. Broadly, Member States can be categorized as either net countries of origin or net countries of destination. Despite this general classification, all ASEAN countries exhibit patterns of both incoming and outgoing migration (Figure 1).

Introduction 1. Figure 1. Total intra-ASEAN international migration (2020) Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Population Division, 2024.

BRUNEI

DARUSSALAM

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

SINGAPORE

CAMBODIA

PHILIPPINES

MYANMAR

THAILAND

LAO PEOPLE’S

DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC

VIET NAM1,000,000

2,000,000 -3,000,000 3,000,000 -2,000,000 4,000,000 -1,000,000 Nationals abroad (Male) Nationals abroad (Female) Migrants in country (Male) Migrants in country (Female) 2 INTRODUCTIONOver the past three decades, there has been a significant and steady increase in intra-ASEAN international migration, especially to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore (Figure 2). Figure 2. Number of intra-ASEAN migrants in ASEAN countries 1990–2020

Migrants in country (Female) 2 INTRODUCTIONOver the past three decades, there has been a significant and steady increase in intra-ASEAN international migration, especially to Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore (Figure 2). Figure 2. Number of intra-ASEAN migrants in ASEAN countries 1990–2020

Source: UN DESA, Population Division, 2024.

Note: Intra-ASEAN migration only.

In line with the growing recognition of the importance of skills for ASEAN socioeconomic development, the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, ASEAN’s Chair in 2024, proposed the development of an ASEAN declaration to promote skills mobility, recognition and development for migrant workers in early 2024. The declaration Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers was adopted at the forty-fourth and forty-fifth ASEAN Summits in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic in October 2024, together with a Checklist to support its implementation. The development of the 1.1 Development of the Vientiane Declaration and its Checklist

0 1990 2010 2000 2020 3,000,000 7,000,000 1,000,000 4,000,000 8,000,000 2,000,0 00 6,000,000 5,000,000

THAILAND

INDONESIA

SINGAPORE

LAO PEOPLE’S

DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC

MALAYSIA

VIET NAM

CAMBODIA

BRUNEI

DARUSSALAM

PHILIPPINES

3 ADVANCING SKILLS MOBILITY, RECOGNITION, AND DEVELOPMENT FOR MIGRANT WORKERS IN ASEAN1.2 About this paper Vientiane Declaration and its Checklist was an activity under the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting. The process was supported by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) labour migration and skills teams through the TRIANGLE in

Vientiane Declaration and its Checklist was an activity under the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting. The process was supported by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) labour migration and skills teams through the TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) through its PROMISE programme. The Vientiane Declaration aims to enhance skills mobility, recognition and development through a voluntary, nonbinding, rights-based and gender-sensitive framework. This framework focuses on improving migrant workers’ access to market-driven, migrant-centred and gender-responsive skills recognition and development mechanisms. Additionally, the Declaration aims to facilitate the incorporation of skills recognition into labour migration governance frameworks such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and admission policies to facilitate the mobility of migrant workers at all skill levels (low-, midand high-skilled) within ASEAN. The ASEAN Declaration encourages a whole-of-society approach and aims to strengthen cross-border collaboration for the mutual recognition of skills in both the countries of origin and destination. The Checklist accompanying the Vientiane Declaration is to assist the self-assessment of ASEAN Member States’ policies and practices to facilitate skills mobility, development and recognition, identify needs for strengthening these policies and practices, and monitor progress in implementing the Declaration. The Declaration and its Checklist were developed through a process including two consultations with representatives from government agencies responsible for labour, migration and skills development from all ASEAN Member States (AMS), national and regional employers’ organizations, workers’ organizations and civil society organizations, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ILO and IOM experts. The first regional consultation was held online on 29 April 2024, while the second one took place in person, on 24 and 25 June 2024, in Vientiane, Lao

organizations and civil society organizations, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ILO and IOM experts. The first regional consultation was held online on 29 April 2024, while the second one took place in person, on 24 and 25 June 2024, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. This background paper was prepared to support the development of the Vientiane Declaration and its Checklist. The background paper presents key concepts and international and regional frameworks on skills mobility, recognition and development for migrant workers; it also reviews the challenges currently faced by migrant workers in the ASEAN region in accessing skills mobility, recognition and development opportunities and getting their skills recognized. It identifies key opportunities and challenges, and proposes concrete policy recommendations to realize skills mobility, recognition and development for migrant workers in the ASEAN region. The paper is based on a desk review of studies and reports produced and published by the ASEAN Secretariat, the ILO and IOM. It relies on data compiled and published by the ILO and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) as well as past surveys carried out by the ILO and IOM. It also incorporates inputs provided by presenters and participants during the two consultations organized as part of the Declaration’s development process. Statistical data on skills dimensions of labour migration is limited and not equally produced or shared by all AMS. In addition, realities of migrant workers in irregular situations may not be fully captured by official data. Therefore, the paper provides a partial, yet the most comprehensive picture of skills and labour migration in the region. The primary focus of this paper is on lowand mid-skilled migrant workers. 4 INTRODUCTIONMotorcycle mechanic from Lao People’s Democratic Republic © ILO/Wei Xiangnan

KEY CONCEPTS

AND FRAMEWORKS

2The Vientiane Declaration

region. The primary focus of this paper is on lowand mid-skilled migrant workers. 4 INTRODUCTIONMotorcycle mechanic from Lao People’s Democratic Republic © ILO/Wei Xiangnan

KEY CONCEPTS

AND FRAMEWORKS

2The Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers is an important regional commitment filling a policy gap in ASEAN frameworks on labour migration and skills development. This chapter presents the normative context in which the Vientiane Declaration was developed by outlining the existing ASEAN initiatives on labour migration and skills and introducing relevant international frameworks on skills mobility, recognition and development for migrant workers. This chapter also outlines definitions of key concepts applied in the Vientiane Declaration and this background paper and demonstrates a comprehensive approach to skills development and recognition at different stages of the labour migration. The ASEAN Community is built upon three pillars: the Political-Security Community, the Economic Community and the Socio-Cultural Community. These pillars encompass a comprehensive approach to regional integration, with freer movement of skilled labour recognized as a significant aspect of economic growth and development. The Economic Community Blueprint 2025, the Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025 and the Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025 provide frameworks for the movement of skilled labour and advocate for the protection and promotion of human rights, including the rights of migrant workers. Furthermore, ASEAN is committed to enhancing institutional, physical and people-to-people connectivity, three cross-sectoral initiatives outlined in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. The objective of peopleto-people connectivity is to bridge the gap between skills demand and supply across ASEAN. ASEAN Member States’ commitments to the protection and promotion of the rights

three cross-sectoral initiatives outlined in the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025. The objective of peopleto-people connectivity is to bridge the gap between skills demand and supply across ASEAN. ASEAN Member States’ commitments to the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers have been outlined in two key regional standards. The ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (Cebu Declaration), adopted in 2007, recognizes the contributions of migrant workers to the society and outlines key obligations of receiving and sending States in the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers. It also tasks the relevant ASEAN bodies to follow up on the Declaration and report annually on the progress of the implementation of the Declaration to the ASEAN Summit through the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting. The ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) was established in 2008 as the ASEAN sectoral body responsible for the implementation of the Cebu Declaration. The ACMW has an extensive work plan including the ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) as a recurring annual flagship event, and many other activities and initiatives. The ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, adopted in 2017, elaborates on the rights of migrant workers and their families and expands the obligations of ASEAN Member States regarding their protection. Skills-related provisions of the ASEAN Conse