ASEAN/MoM/UN women/FES High Level Policy Dialogue on: Women Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Economic Community in Jakarta

With H.E. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community;Michael Freiherr von Ungern-Sternberg, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Indonesia, ASEAN and Timor-Leste; Miwa Kato, UN Women Asia Pacific Regional Director, Ibu Roostiawati, Director for Labour Market development in MoM,
Jane Duke, Australian Ambassador to ASEAN and Natalia Figge, Representative FES Singapore
launched the study "Women Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Economic Community"
A study commissioned in partnership with UN Women, ASEAN Secretariat, the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and with support of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Women migrant workers of ASEAN contribute significantly to the region’s economies. Yet many obstacles remain which must be removed to ensure their equal participation in and benefit from ASEAN economic growth and development.

While the ASEAN Economic Community brings benefits and opportunities for women migrant workers, they need to rise up occupational hierarchy in high-growth sectors.

The study advocates and shows the benefits of progressive migration policies with a gender perspective on national and regional level.

It is the first of its kind to shed new light on intra-ASEAN migrant women’s labour mobility trends, access to and outcomes in labour markets, the contribution to ASEAN economies and high-growth sectors, and the challenges of social and economic inclusion.

By reviewing the current migrant governance frameworks at national and regional level, it provides unique actionable evidence-based policy recommendations for decision-makers to benefit from women’s labour mobility, provide fair and equitable migration opportunities for women, and enhance regional social and economic development.