TRIANGLE in ASEAN: Safe and Fair Labour Migration

Labour migration has long been a critical factor behind the economic and social dynamism of the ASEAN region and its people. Disparities in development between Member States, alongside demographic changes in destination countries, means that migration makes a substantial contribution to improved livelihoods and increased labour market efficiency. Due to the high costs, long duration, and considerable complexity of navigating the regular channels for migration, many ASEAN migrants are employed precariously in destination countries without legal status. Regardless of the documents they hold, migrants within the region often experience exploitation and abuse because of inadequate protection of their labour rights during recruitment and employment. Women face additional challenges in accessing safe and legal migration opportunities, with the type of work available to them often paying less and affording fewer legal protections due to lack of formalization. Protectionist policies in some countries restrict the movement of women by sector, destination or other circumstances perceived as dangerous or contrary to traditional social values. In addressing these challenges, the ILO TRIANGLE in ASEAN programme is a part of ILO’s global efforts to promote fair migration. TRIANGLE is based on the theory of change that strengthened protection of all migrant workers, harnessing their potential to contribute to development and ensuring that the systems facilitating their mobility are gender transformative and efficient will create a virtuous circle that maximizes the contribution of labour migration to stable and inclusive growth and development. TRIANGLE targets migrant and potential migrant workers and their communities, tripartite constituents, recruitment agencies, civil society and the private sector with a focus on those working in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, services, and those in low-paid care work, including domestic workers. TRIANGLE works nationally across eight countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam) and engages with all ASEAN Member States at regional level. It works in close cooperation with ASEAN bodies, governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations and civil society organizations (CSOs) to achieve three inter-linking objectives: strengthening protection of the rights of migrant workers, enabling migrants to contribute to and benefit from economic and social development and establishing labour mobility systems that are gender transformative and increase the efficiency of labour markets.

Project symbol

RAS/22/54/AUS

Admin unit

RO-Asia and the Pacific

Start date

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End date

30/09/2025

Total allocation

6930008

Total expenditure

Status

Active

6930008

Development Partners

Australia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Country/Countries

Viet Nam
Thailand
Cambodia
Asia and the Pacific - regional
Malaysia
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Myanmar

Outcomes

Outcome 6: Protection at work for all