Expanding mutual recognition arrangements
– ASEAN-wide understanding and management of labour migration would benefit from
an expansion of mutual recognition agreements
on skills and qualifications. This would also
reduce irregular migration. Initially this could involve medium-skill occupations for which
there is high potential demand, with a view to
managing labour mobility in the longer term.
Towards this end, governments can complete the
ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework to
strengthen and benchmark their national qualifications frameworks, while developing regional
model competency standards in key sectors such
as construction.