ITUC-Asia Pacific has welcomed the adoption of the Progress Declaration at the close of the 2nd International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), while urging governments to immediately translate these global commitments into enforceable, rights-based protections of all migrant workers on the ground.
Representing millions of workers across the region at the IMRF from 5–8 May 2026, ITUC-Asia Pacific recognises the adoption of the Declaration by consensus as an important development amid rising anti-migrant narratives, growing political polarisation, and tightening restrictions on migrant rights globally. However, the regional trade union confederation emphasised that the outcome document is only as good as its implementation.
"Migrant workers are workers whose contributions to our economies and societies are invaluable," said Shoya Yoshida, General Secretary of ITUC-Asia Pacific. "Migration governance must ensure fair wages, safe workplaces, universal social protection, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and protection from exploitation for all migrant workers regardless of status."
Throughout the four-day forum, the ITUC-Asia Pacific delegation actively engaged with governments, trade unions, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and migrant rights advocates to ensure that the lived realities of Asia-Pacific workers shaped the discussions surrounding the IMRF.
A central focus of the trade unions’ advocacy at the IMRF was confronting the systemic precarity and dehumanisation faced by vulnerable sectors. Speaking at the Multi-stakeholder Hearing on the Human Rights of Migrants on 4 May, Dr. S. M. Fahimuddin Pasha, Director of Workers’ Rights at ITUC-AP, raised concerns about the growing dehumanisation of undocumented migrants, specifically citing instances of deportations carried out in handcuffs and shackles.
In this context, Dr. Pasha underscored the need for accountability mechanisms, stronger enforcement, and meaningful inclusion of trade unions in migration governance. “Only then can we ensure that migration is governed not by fear and deterrence, but by rights, dignity, and justice,” he said.
ITUC-Asia Pacific also contributed to discussions during parallel event titled, “Sustainable and Decent Social Protection: Precarity by Design – How Migration Status Determines Access to Protection,” held on 6 May 2026. Panellists and union representatives highlighted how current frameworks intentionally design precarity into the system, underscoring the urgent need for universal and portable social protection, ethical recruitment systems, decent work, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and equal access to rights and protection of migrant workers.
On the sidelines of the forum, ITUC-Asia Pacific participated in strategic exchanges with key state representatives and civil society organisations to push for concrete compliance with international labour standards. The delegation met with officials from the Philippines to address the distinct vulnerabilities faced by migrant women workers, particularly domestic workers. Additionally, discussions were held with representatives from Nepal, including the President of ECOSOC, His Excellency Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, focusing on critical labour rights concerns affecting public sector workers.
ITUC-Asia Pacific maintains that the true success of the IMRF process will not be measured by the adoption of a consensus document, but by national actions that guarantee decent work, rights, and dignity for all migrant workers.
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