An estimated 23.6 million people from ASEAN member states reside outside of their countries of origin. Of these, approximately 7.1 million remain within the region. These migrants are typically employed in low-paid jobs with poor standards of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) that are shunned by locals. To address these circumstances, ASEAN and other international organisations have developed various instruments. For example, under the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (2017), member states commit to “promote fair and appropriate employment protection, payment of wages, and adequate access to decent working and living conditions for migrant workers”.
This paper provides a brief overview of OHS conditions in key migrant employment sectors, namely agriculture, the fisheries, construction, manufacturing, and domestic work. It highlights the various barriers migrants face when attempting to access benefits and receive compensation following workplace accidents. Drawing on case studies using pseudonyms, the paper identifies policy gaps and offers recommendations to ASEAN member states.

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