The International Labour Organization (ILO), with financial support from Australia and Switzerland, has launched a five-year programme to strengthen labour protections, skills development and employment opportunities for migrant workers across Southeast Asia.
The initiative, known as TRIANGLE Partnerships for Fair and Effective Labour Migration in ASEAN, was launched on October 14, 2026, in Manila, alongside the 19th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour. It will run until 2031 with approximately US$20 million in funding from the two governments.
The programme aims to improve access to legal migration pathways, decent work, skills training, social protection and support services. It will operate at regional, national and local levels, linking commitments made by governments with practical assistance for migrant workers.
Labour migration plays an important role in the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). An estimated 24 million international migrants originate from ASEAN countries, while the region hosts approximately 11 million migrants, including around seven million who have moved between countries within the region.
Despite its economic importance, labour migration continues to present challenges. Many workers face high recruitment fees, inadequate labour protections, unsafe working conditions and difficulties getting their qualifications and skills recognised in destination countries.
These problems can leave migrants vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking, including forced criminality linked to scam centre operations.
ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kaori Nakamura-Osaka said the programme would help turn regional commitments into practical protections, allowing migrant workers to access decent jobs, develop their skills and receive support throughout their migration journeys.
The programme will work across ASEAN, with country-level activities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Its work will focus on five main areas: fair recruitment and regular migration pathways; skills development and recognition; social protection and the transfer of benefits across borders; labour rights and decent working conditions; and the return and reintegration of migrant workers.
Governments, employers’ organisations, trade unions, ASEAN institutions, civil society groups, migrant worker organisations and private businesses will be involved in implementing the initiative.
Australia said the programme builds on more than 15 years of support for efforts to promote safe and fair labour migration in Southeast Asia. Australian Ambassador to ASEAN Tiffany McDonald said the initiative would help strengthen worker protections and address emerging migration challenges while supporting inclusive economic growth.
Switzerland will contribute to efforts to improve vocational training and ensure workers can use recognised qualifications to access better employment opportunities. Swiss Ambassador-designate to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN Konstantin Obolensky said skills development could help workers secure better jobs and higher incomes while meeting changing labour market needs.
The programme will also build on the ILO’s existing TRIANGLE initiative by expanding activities into additional countries and placing greater emphasis on skills development and recognition.
A key component will be support for Migrant Worker Resource Centres, which provide information, counselling, legal assistance, training and referrals to relevant services.
Through the programme, the ILO and its partners aim to improve cooperation between countries of origin and destination, strengthen protections throughout the migration process and help migrant workers access safer routes to employment.