ASEAN labour ministers wrapped up their meeting in Hanoi on May 24 with a consensus on an action plan during the 2010-2015 period to improve protection of regional migrant workers and boost regional labour cooperation.

The action plan focuses on building up legal frameworks, improve the capacity of government agencies, strengthen partnership cooperation among ASEAN member states and develop the regional labour market and workforce.

Participants at the 21st ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM 21) agreed to and supported Vietnam’s proposals regarding an ASEAN statement on developing the human resource and vocational skills for the recovery and development of economic growth.

The proposal will be submitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi this October.

ASEAN labour ministers reviewed implementation of the cooperation plans and programmes agreed on at the previous meeting and discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community’s master plan in the fields of human resources and vocational skills as well as protection of migrant workers’ rights.

Representatives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) also attended the open sessions within the meeting and shared information of ILO’s activities in the labour and employment areas as well as the organisation’s cooperation with ASEAN.

Earlier the same day, ASEAN labour ministers had a meeting with three partner countries of China , Japan and the Republic of Korea on developing human resources for economic recovery and growth./.