The agreement was signed following the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings that concluded in Manila, the Philippines, on November 14.
Through the document, the leaders committed to ensuring that migrant workers enjoy all fundamental rights and interests, as well as their access to social welfare, justice and humanitarian treatment.
The consensus will serve as a guideline for the operations of the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers, looking towards international standards being applied in the ASEAN activities related to preserving and facilitating the rights of migrant workers, and further increasing the responsibility of states sending and receiving the labourers.
The signing of the deal demonstrates the strong efforts of ASEAN in building a people-centred community.
Concluding the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings, the Philippines handed over the ASEAN Chair in 2018 to Singapore who announced the planned concentration of ASEAN cooperation for next year of “Embracing the future, towards a resilient and innovative ASEAN Community”.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation left Manila for Hanoi, on November 14, successfully concluding their Philippines visit to attend the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
