On International Migrants Day, we* join the international community in celebrating the contributions of migrant workers in the region and recognising that migrant workers play an essential role in ASEAN’s development.
Article 4 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) and the Phnom Penh Statement of the Adoption of the AHRD (2012) states that the rights of migrant workers, among others, are an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
We note a range of ASEAN instruments aimed at safeguarding the rights of migrant workers, including the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2007), ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2017), Declaration on the Guidelines on Consular Assistance by ASEAN Member States’ Missions in Third Countries to Nationals of Other ASEAN Member States (2018), ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers (2020), ASEAN Declaration on Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers in ASEAN (2022) and its Guidelines (2024), ASEAN Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations and its Guidelines (2023), ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers (2023), and ASEAN Declaration on Promoting the Right to Development and the Right to Peace Towards Realising Inclusive and Sustainable Development (2025).
All over the world, unfortunately, migrant workers still face immense challenges and struggles in their lives, suffering from exploitation, abuse, unsafe working conditions, and barriers to accessing justice and remedies.
As AICHR representatives of our respective countries, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of migrant workers in this region. They are entitled to participate in, contribute to, enjoy, and benefit equitably and sustainably from development. Migrant workers’ rights should be mainstreamed in all ASEAN sectors, and this should be pursued through multi-stakeholder engagement, consultation and dialogue, advancing responsible business conduct, and enabling the voices of migrant workers to be heard and included in ASEAN’s Community-building efforts towards realising ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
On this International Migrants Day, we emphasise the importance of collective action and solidarity in safeguarding the dignity and rights of migrant workers, so that this can be their lived experience. Let us continue working together to protect and promote their rights, ensuring no one is left behind.
We wish everyone, especially migrant workers in ASEAN and beyond, a happy International Migrants Day!
Dated this 18th day of December 2025
* H.E. Edmund Bon Tai Soon is the Representative of Malaysia to AICHR and Chair of AICHR (2025), H.E. Ajman Meludin is the Representative of Brunei Darussalam to AICHR, H.E. Keo Remy is the Representative of Cambodia to AICHR, H.E. Anita Ashvini Wahid is the Representative of Indonesia to AICHR, H.E. Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang is the Representative of Thailand to AICHR, and H.E. Honorio Soares Magalhães is the Representative of Timor-Leste to AICHR.
