Zero placement fees, one day: Asean’s long game on migrant worker recruitment

Migrant workers haul in a fishing net on a trawler off Ban Nam Khem in Phangnga, Thailand. Asean leaders adopted a declaration seeking to curb abusive recruitment and protect migrant workers at the Manila Summit on November 15, 2026. — Bangkok Post pic via AFP

First Published: Sunday, 15 Nov 2026 7:38 PM MYT

MANILA, Nov 15 — South-east Asian leaders have adopted a regional declaration seeking to curb abusive recruitment practices and strengthen protections for migrant workers, including Filipinos vulnerable to illegal recruitment, human trafficking and online employment scams during the 49th Asean Summit and Related Meetings, Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

The Asean Declaration on Fair, Ethical and Sustainable Recruitment for Empowered Migrant Workers seeks to promote transparent, fair, and accountable recruitment practices; prevent excessive and unreasonable recruitment fees; and ensure equal employment opportunities and protection for migrant workers.

It also seeks to strengthen the regulation and oversight of recruitment agencies; enhance access to justice and effective remedies; and foster greater cooperation among Asean member states.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the declaration would help protect around 600,000 Filipino migrant workers across Asean member states by strengthening safeguards throughout the recruitment and employment process.

“This declaration ... advances Asean instruments towards the protection and promotion of rights of migrant workers,” Cacdac said during a press briefing on Sunday.

He said the agreement also addresses emerging challenges in labour migration, particularly online recruitment and employment schemes that expose workers to exploitation.

Cacdac cited the need for closer coordination between countries of origin and destination, including the recognition of each other’s recruitment licensing and processing systems.

The declaration also seeks to prohibit excessive or unreasonable recruitment fees and strengthen policies on the licensing and monitoring of recruitment and manning agencies.

Cacdac said the framework would reinforce cooperation in rescuing and repatriating Filipinos caught in scam hubs, while ensuring access to legal assistance and welfare services for those detained or held in host countries.

DMW Assistant Secretary Levinson Alcantara said the declaration is covered by the Asean Committee on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers and has been included in its 2026–2030 work plan.

He said implementation initiatives are already being prepared, with initial activities expected in early 2027.

Alcantara said the declaration does not provide for penalties or sanctions against member states that fail to address unethical recruitment.

Instead, it emphasises capacity-building, stronger institutions and closer cooperation.

He added that the long-term goal is to move towards zero placement fees across Asean, although member states have yet to harmonise their regulatory systems.

The declaration builds on earlier regional commitments, including the 2007 Asean Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers and the 2017 Asean Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. — Bernama-PNA