ILO, Australia and Switzerland launch partnership for fair and effective labour migration in ASEAN

MANILA (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO), with support from the Governments of Australia and Switzerland, has launched a five-year programme to strengthen protection, skills development and employment opportunities for migrant workers across ASEAN.

TRIANGLE Partnerships for Fair and Effective Labour Migration in ASEAN will work at regional, national and local levels to improve migrant workers’ access to safe migration pathways, decent work, skills development and recognition, social protection and support services.

The programme, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs’ (FDFA), was launched 14 October 2026 on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) in Manila. TRIANGLE Partnerships builds on more than 15 years of Australian government support to ASEAN in promoting safe and fair labour migration.

Labour migration is an important part of economies and labour markets across ASEAN. An estimated 24 million international migrants originate from ASEAN countries, while the region hosts around 11 million migrants, including some 7 million who have moved within ASEAN. Yet many migrant workers continue to face high recruitment costs, gaps in labour and social protection, hazardous working conditions and barriers to having their skills recognized. These challenges can increase vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking, including for forced criminality linked to scam centre operations.

“Grounded in international labour standards, TRIANGLE Partnerships will connect ASEAN commitments with national action and services on the ground, so that migrant workers can access decent work, develop and use their skills, and get the protection and support they need throughout their migration journey,” said Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

TRIANGLE Partnerships will work across ASEAN, with country-level activities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. It will focus on five areas that affect workers throughout the migration cycle: fair recruitment and regular migration pathways; skills mobility, recognition and development; social protection and portability of benefits; labour protection and decent work; and return and reintegration. Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, ASEAN institutions, civil society, migrant worker organizations and the private sector will be involved in its activities and implementation.

“Australia is pleased to continue supporting ASEAN through TRIANGLE Partnerships, reflecting our longstanding commitment to safe and effective labour migration in ASEAN. The program will help translate regional commitments into practical action that promotes decent work, strengthens protections for migrant workers and responds to evolving labour migration challenges, including those associated with scam centre operations, while ensuring the benefits of economic integration are shared broadly across ASEAN. Effective labour migration can support inclusive economic growth, strengthen regional connections and create opportunities for workers, employers and communities. As ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner and Comprehensive Strategic Partner, Australia remains committed to supporting ASEAN-led initiatives that contribute to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region,” said H.E. Tiffany McDonald, Ambassador of Australia to ASEAN.

Building on more than a decade of ILO work supported by Australia under the TRIANGLE initiative, TRIANGLE Partnerships will expand into new countries and place greater emphasis on skills development and recognition. It will connect ASEAN-level cooperation with national policies and practical support for workers, including through Migrant Worker Resource Centres providing information, counselling, legal assistance, training and referrals.

“Skills open doors to better jobs, higher incomes, and greater economic opportunity. Switzerland has long invested in vocational skills development, both at home and abroad, because a skilled workforce benefits the entire economy and helps countries respond to evolving labour market needs. Through TRIANGLE Partnerships, we aim to ensure that migrant workers can develop relevant skills, have them recognized and use them to access better opportunities throughout their migration journey. As we celebrate 10 years of the Switzerland-ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership this year, we are proud to launch the TRIANGLE programme and build on our efforts to narrow the development gap across ASEAN,” said H.E Konstantin Obolensky, Ambassador-designate of Switzerland to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN.

TRIANGLE Partnerships runs from 2026 to 2031 and is implemented by the ILO with approximately US$20 million in funding from Australia and Switzerland.

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