Manila, June 26 -- The Philippines took the lead in regional efforts to strengthen protections for migrant workers as it hosted the 19th meeting of the Implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) for 2026-2027 in Pasay City on June 24 to 25.

In a news release Friday, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Dacdac said the two-day gathering, held under the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairship, brought together representatives from ASEAN member states, sectoral bodies and development partners to discuss policies and initiatives aimed at improving migrant worker welfare and advancing labor migration reforms across Southe...