Labour officials, labour inspectors, prosecutors and investigators from ASEAN Member States joined the Regional Workshop on Effective Investigation and Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) for Labour Exploitation on 6-8 June in Manila.

The participants discussed labour dimensions of trafficking in persons and how investigation and prosecution of trafficking in persons for forced labour could be enhanced. They gained practical knowledge on the relevant labour issues of licensing of recruitment agencies, occupational safety and health in workplace, employment contract, social security, wage and compensation to the victims of labour trafficking.

Attorney Brigido J. Dulay, Deputy Administrator of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines said, “trafficking in Persons is not only a legal issue. It is an economic issue as well. It needs investments of time, resources and funds among Member States and a sustained effort among its implementers and enforcers to criminalize trafficking and prosecute traffickers. Continuous capacity building, information build up and exchange, awareness campaign among potential victims are enabling factors that would help end the scourge of trafficking.”

The workshop is an activity of the ASEAN Committee to Implement the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers in its work plan for 2016-2020. It is a capacity building activity to support implementation of the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children which entered into force since 8 March 2017.

Hosted by the Department of Labour and Employment of the Philippines, the workshop was supported by the Philippine Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the Australia-Asia Program to Combat Trafficking in Persons, International Labor Organization and ASEAN Secretariat.

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