Lawyers, NGOs pivotal to providing remedy services for migrant workers

Labour Migration

Lawyers, NGOs pivotal to providing remedy services for migrant workers

Consultation workshop in Bangkok, Thailand brings together lawyers, NGOs and academia to discuss challenges and solutions in providing better access to remedy for migrant workers to Japan.

18 November 2024

Vietnamese worker at a factory. Factory work is a common job for migrants in Japan

BANGKOK (ILO News) - The need for greater awareness amongst migrant workers of the remedy-related services available to them and the important role that lawyers and NGOs play in this regard was highlighted at a workshop held in Bangkok on 28-29 October 2024.

The event took place as part of ILO's efforts to improve access to remedy for migrant workers from South-East Asia to Japan. It brought together lawyers and NGO staff from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Japan along with representatives of ILO, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The participants discussed key challenges in facilitating access to remedy for migrant workers particularly relating to cross-border issues. They also shared information on existing remedy mechanisms and the importance of boosting awareness of these services in countries of origin.

During the event, the representative of JICA also highlighted JP-MIRAI Assist, a helpdesk service available in 22 languages that migrant workers working in Japan can utilize when they have questions and concerns related to their rights at work and life.

William Gois, Regional Coordinator of Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), the international NGO and lead organizer of the workshop commented: "As a country attracting migrant workers and dealing with demographic issues, it is vital that Japan lead in labour migration governmance in the South-East Asia region following the ILO's labour standards. MFA hopes the joint work plan will pave a significant way forward for better access to remedy for migrant workers".

William Gois of Migrant Forum in Asia commenting in the workshop

The workshop was organized as part of an ILO project entitled Survey for Co-creating a Joint Work Plan for Improving Access to Remedy of Migrant Workers from Southeast Asia to Japan in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The initiative targets South-East Asia and seeks to consolidate inputs to develop a joint work plan involving various international and national stakeholders concerning remedies for migrant workers.