A National Project Advisory Meeting under the heading ‘Safe and Fair: Realizing Women Migrant Worker’s Rights and Opportunities in the ASEAN Region’ was held at Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

The event was jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, the International Labour Organization, and UN Women.
The Union Ministers for both participating ministries delivered speeches at the event.

MoLIP Minister’s speech

U Thein Swe, the Union Minister for MoLIP, first delivered a speech. He said this project will be implemented in 10 ASEAN member countries and aims to end violence against women migrant workers, increase information and services provided to them, expand networks among women, and better inform the public on how women migrant workers contribute to society. He explained the tasks performed by UN Women and the ILO and requested their continued support.

SWRR Minister’s speech

Next, SWRR Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye delivered a speech. He said we must all continue working together to implement the laws, bylaws and procedures needed to create a safe working environment for women migrant workers and give them full protection. He urged attendees to put in their best efforts to fully realize the rights and opportunities of women migrant workers.
Following this, Mr. Knut Ostby, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, and Dr. Johann Hesse, EU Head of Cooperation, delivered separate speeches as well.

The advisory meeting aims to discuss the dangers of possible human trafficking and setting up safe and fair migrant working processes for women, supporting strategic guidelines on prioritized areas in line with the changing state of the nation, observing change, assessing research projects, and publishing a report.

—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)