International Development Grant
Promoting and Protecting the Rights of ASEAN Migrant Workers
Project Number: CA-3-D003314001
Status: Operational
Country/Region: Unknown
Regional Focus:
Maximum Contribution: $5,500,000.00
Start Date: December 07, 2016
End Date: September 30, 2024
Duration: 7.8 years
Project Description
The project aims to harmonize labour migration governance frameworks in the ASEAN region to maximize the protection of migrant workers and their contributions to equitable and inclusive growth in the region. The project leverages partnerships and sources of financing into a more streamlined effective delivery model. The project works with policymakers from national ministries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states as well as regional bodies workers organizations the private sector civil society organizations and academic institutions through regional policy dialogue evidence-based research capacity development tool development and the implementation and pilot testing of initiatives. Project activities include: (1) increasing access to social protection for women and men migrant workers; (2) maximizing the social and development impact of migration with particular emphasis on remittances; and (3) improving regional cooperation and labour mobility opportunities within the ASEAN community. The project is jointly funded by Global Affairs Canada and the Government of Australia.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) women and men migrant workers are better protected by labour migration governance frameworks; (2) policies and programmes enable women and men migrant workers to contribute to and benefit from economic and social development; and (3) labour mobility systems are gender-responsive and increase the efficiency of labour markets.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2022 include: (1) enacted or amended 41 policy and legislative instruments with the International Labour Organization’s technical assistance; (2) trained 41 456 people (44% women) from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states on labour migration governance; (3) developed and disseminated 58 knowledge products to build the evidence base on labour migration within the ASEAN region; (4) provided 190 886 migrant workers (44.5% women) with individualized support services through a network of 24 Migrant Worker Resource Centres including awards of USD$10 927 466 in compensation for labour rights violations and workplace injuries; (5) trained10 586 migrant workers and their family members on financial literacy or assisted with return and reintegration (56.2% women); (6) reached 3 527 441 persons with research and communications materials ranging from printed material on migration to social media campaigns; and (7) spent more than 20% of the project activity budget on activities that explicitly benefit women with the remaining 80% of the budget supporting activities that promote gender equality.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
ILO - International Labour Organization
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
OGM Indo-Pacific
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Unsolicited Proposal