SEANF Paper on Migrant Workers
workers into the society by facilitating public education awareness campaign
regarding role and contributions of migrant workers to the economic and social
development of receiving country; educating both the receiving communities
and the migrant workers about cultural and language diversity of both sending
and receiving countries; and facilitating community support networks for
migrant workers.
H.
Health of migrant workers
25.
Article 12 of the ICESCR establishes the right of “everyone to enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” The SEANF observes
that the quality of health of a migrant worker does not just affect the worker,
but also has implications on his or her ability to work and contribute to the
economy of the receiving country, to earn and send money to his or her family
still residing in the country of origin, and to return and reintegrate to the country
of origin and enjoy a productive life. Therefore, the SEANF recommends that the
health of migrant workers be protected and calls on the regional ASEAN
Instrument to ensure that all migrant workers are provided with easily accessible
and affordable quality health care.
26.
The SEANF finds that CRC Article 24 requires that “States Parties recognize the
right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health
and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States
Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access
to such health care services.” Accordingly, the SEANF recommends that
provisions must be made in the regional ASEAN instrument to ensure that ASEAN
member states provide access to low cost, quality pediatric care for the children
of all migrant workers.
27.
The SEANF finds that Article 12(1) of CEDAW requires all ratifying states “shall
take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in
the field of health care in order to ensure…access to health care services,
including those related to family planning.” The SEANF therefore recommends
that all ASEAN states ensure that migrant women workers are provided access to
gender-sensitive reproductive health services, in addition to ensuring the
protection of women workers’ health in the work place.
22