Indonesia, The Philippines to discuss migrant workers protection

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Prior to the opening ceremony of ASEAN Labor Retreat, Indonesia’s Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri held a bilateral meeting with the Philippines’ Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III at Marcopolo Hotel, Davao, Philippines.

During the meeting, Minister Hanif wished that there will be a solid cooperation between the two countries on migrant workers’ protection in ASEAN due to their position as the labor-sending countries.

"Indonesia and the Philippines are two largest labor-sending countries in ASEAN, thus the migrant workers’ protection has become our priority,” Minister Hanif said after the meeting on Monday (2/20)

He also hoped that both countries will have understanding about their positions in ASEAN, and to work together finalizing the ASEAN instrument on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Migrant workers into a binding document.

"We hope the cooperation between Indonesia and Philippines will not only be in the migrant workers’ protection in ASEAN but also in other areas, such as in vocational training," he said.

On the occasion, the minister will also visit the Philippines’ Technical Education and Skill Development Autority (TESDA)—vocational training institution—in Manila on Tuesday (2/21). (Translator: Rina Alexandra)