Panel Discussion Session 13th July 2015, at Panorama I, 14th floor, The Emerald Hotel By Tiraphap Fakthong, Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University (Thailand)

1. Asian Labor Protection
and Migration
- A Decade of Challenges -
Tiraphap Fakthong
Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University (Thailand)
Panel Discussion Session
13th July 2015, at Panorama I, 14th floor,The Emerald Hotel

2. Recent trends in Asian labour migration
The main destinations for labor migrants from Asia are the developing AMS
Malaysia or Thailand
Temporary migration of labour.
The short duration has obvious implications for recognition of migrant rights and their
economic and social integration in receiving countries
The flow dominated by semi-skilled and unskilled workers.
Facing numerous problems in protection in both sending and receiving countries
compared to skilled workers and professionals.
Irregular migration and informal economy
Facing various rights abuses against migrant workers. It exposes them to extreme risks
and exploitation.
Feminization of migration
“domestic worker”
Sources:
1. ADB. (2014). Labor Migration, Skills & Student Mobility in Asia, Tokyo, ADB.
2. Wickramasekara, Piyasiri 1996. Recent trends in temporary labour migration in Asia, in: OCED, Migration and the Labour market in Asia: prospects to the
Year 2000, OECD documents, Paris, 1996.
3. Wickramasekara, Piyasiri. 2000. Migrant workers in: Towards an integrated market in South East Asia: the ASEAN experience, The trade union agenda,
Labour Education 1999/4 (117), Geneva, ILO.

3. Protection of migrant workers
labour-sending country,
1. protection of prospective
migrants before their departure
from the home country
2. protection of national
workers while they are abroad.
labour-receiving country,
The protection accorded to
foreign workers, whatever
their status.
Thailand
Protection of national
workers while abroad; and,
protection of foreign workers
inside the country
Source:
Wickramasekara, Piyasiri. 2000. Migrant workers in: Towards an integrated market in South East Asia: the ASEAN experience, The trade union agenda,
Labour Education 1999/4 (117), Geneva, ILO.

4. Migrant workers can be protected at
three levels
International
Level
Regional Level
National Level
1. Ratifications of C097 - Migration for
Employment Convention (Revised), 1949
(No. 97)
– Philippines in 2009
2. Ratifications of C143 - Migrant Workers
(Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975
(No. 143)
– Philippines in 2006
3. International Convention on the
Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers and Members of their Families
– Philippines in 1995
Sources:
1. Böhning, W.R. 1996. Employing foreign workers: A manual on policies and procedures of special interest to middle-and low-income countries, ILO, Geneva.
2. NORMLEX Information System on International Labour Standards at http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11001:0:::::
3. International Migration Convention at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migration/international-migration-
convention/

5. Challenges
Protection of (Out/In) migrant workers
Irregular migration
Migrants living and working inThailand in excess of 5 or 10 years
Feminization of migration
Trade Unions (role in assisting and protecting migrant workers)
The overall degree of assistance/information provided to overseas Thai workers
is limited (Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei)
Long-term Policy
Monitoring of migration flows in the region
Migration management policies
Sources:
1. Huguet, Jerrold W. and Chamratrithirong, A. (2011). Thailand Migration Report 2011 "Migration for Development in Thailand: Overview and Tools for
Policymakers“, Bangkok, IOM.
2. Wickramasekara, Piyasiri. 2000. Migrant workers in: Towards an integrated market in South East Asia: the ASEAN experience, The trade union agenda,
Labour Education 1999/4 (117), Geneva, ILO.
3. ADB. (2014). Labor Migration, Skills & Student Mobility in Asia, Tokyo, ADB.

6. Thank you
For more information
Tiraphap Fakthong
Email: tiraphap@econ.tu.ac.th