ENHANCING PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS. Revision of the MoU (between the 6 parties)

Meeting of the parties to the Trade Union to Trade Union Memorandum of Understanding on Labour Migration on 3-5 May 2023 – Face to Face Workshop in Bangkok, Thailand. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Among ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC), South Asian Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC), African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), International Trade Union Confederation Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP); Arab Trade Union Confederation (Arab TUC) the Trade e Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA).

This meeting acted as a workshop to evaluate the 5-year work of the MoU, discuss new challenges, and update the MoU. Participants discussed  with an internal regional or subregional analysis, evaluation, and proposal to be discussed in the meeting. ACTRAV provided technical support and assistance  to the content of the Action Points which were discussed in the meeting.

The six regional or subregional Trade Union organizations discussed and expressed their firm commitment to collaborate toward protecting migrant workers and developed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2018. The face to face workshop in Bangkok provided a platform to discuss on MOU along with its update and revisit. The parties to the MOU had discussed over each and every points and actions of the MOU and revised the previous version of MOU. The new MOU adopted the new 10 actions to be committed by parties to the MOU.

The parties to the MOU, therefore, agreed to create better and improved spaces, opportunities, and cooperation environments for the better defense, protection and promotion of migrant workers and their families’ rights through.

  • ACTION 1: Ratification and implementation of International Labour Standards (ILS)

  • Action2: Legislation-

  • Action3: Empowerment of migrant workers –

  • Action 4: Contribute to the advancement of fair recruitment
  • Action 5: Advocate for improved and inclusive International Cooperation
  • Action 6: Promote the Decent Work Agenda
  • Action 7: Contribute to responsive actions to structural crises

  • Action 8: Effective Social Dialogue

  • Action 9: Championing Women Migrant Workers’ Rights

  • Action 10: Advocate for data collection, analysis and utilisation

The workshop Acknowledged and appreciated the continued cooperation and collaboration of the ILO to this MOU signed earlier in 2018 in the presence of the former Director- General of the International Labour Organisation, Mr Guy Ryder. Likewise, parties to the MOU shared the same appreciation to Mr. Gilbert Houngbo current ILO Director General, for the renewed commitment and support. Also, the signatory parties acknowledged and appreciated the tireless and continued collaboration and support of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in navigating this path.