It is essential to build a transparent and simple common complaintsmechanism in ASEAN to ensure legitimate rights for their migrant workersin the context of the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community(AEC) by late 2015.

This recommendation was made by experts at aseminar organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and SocialAffairs (MoLISA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) inHanoi on September 23, held in preparation for the 7 th ASEAN Forum onMigrant Labour (AFML) scheduled for November in Myanmar.

Vietnamis one of the three Southeast Asian countries with the largest numberof migrant workers, with approximately 500,000 Vietnamese labourersworking in more than 40 countries and territories worldwide, MoLISAsaid.

The establishment of AEC and the increasing demand forworkers in neighbouring countries, such as Laos and Thailand, isexpected to boost labour migration and labour exports in Vietnam.

Insuch a context, participants said Vietnam should early build its ownmechanism to deal with complaints by migrant workers and set up a centreto provide information and advice to them.

They also suggestedVietnam’s trade unions become involved in the negotiation of nationalcooperation agreements on labour so as to safeguard the interests andrights of workers better.

The suggestions at the seminar,together with recommendations made at similar events held in other ASEANcountries, will be brought to the 7th AFML for discussion. The forum isan annual event and part of the action programme of the ASEAN Committeeon the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Promotion and theProtection of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW).-VNA