TRIANGLE Partnerships (for fair and effective labour migration in ASEAN)
Migrant labour is vital to the economic and social development of ASEAN, which is a key trading partner for Switzerland. Through this project, Switzerland supports safer and fairer labour migration by strengthening regular pathways and by improving the training and recognition of skills. The initiative enhances protection for migrant workers, helping ensure that migration benefits workers, their families, and the wider economy.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mekong |
Migration and Development
Labour migration
Migration generally (development aspects and partnerships) Vocational training |
01.03.2026
- 31.03.2031 |
CHF 8’200’000
|
- Current, potential, and returned migrant workers (both regular and irregular)
- Key ministries of labour in ASEAN member states
- Regional and national employers, private recruitment agencies (and their associations)
- Regional and national civil society organizations (CSOs) and trade unions
- TVET institutions
- Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs)
- Local authorities
- Regional and national standards, policies and monitoring mechanisms for labour migration governance are further developed and implemented; skills development and recognition and decent work for migrant workers are strengthened.
- Regional and national stakeholders demonstrate enhanced capacity to address labour migration challenges, aligned to skills and rights-based policy priorities, and monitor progress in the implementation of regional and national frameworks.
- Local (commune, village and/or provincial) labour migration plans and service systems that enable migrant workers to benefit from safe migration, access to skills development and certification are enhanced.
- Service delivery through Migrant Worker Resource Centres is sustainable, effective, empowering and gender- and disability-inclusive.
- Trade unions, women's groups, migrant groups and associations are supported to enable service delivery and advocacy for safe migration and decent work.
- 43,443 migrant workers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand got access to skills training and certification; acc. to a survey, those workers could increase their average monthly incomes from USD 284 to 391.
- Capacities of government institutions, private recruitment agencies, and CSO were strengthened; there is increased engagement on skills development shown by the private sector.
- 26 national and regional policies were developed, incl. the ASEAN Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers and the new Labour Migration Policy for Cambodia.
- Integrated and systematic approaches are crucial for effectively improving migration journeys (from orientation to protection and skills development to return).
- Ongoing dialogue across regional, national, and local levels is central to achieving coherent and effective migration governance.
- Irregular migration and worker mobilization continue to pose persistent challenges, despite ongoing interventions.
- Private recruitment agencies occupy a critical role in the migration process, particularly in ensuring migrants receive accurate information and adequate
pre-departure preparation. - Bern University of Applied Sciences
- International Labor Organization
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
EDUCATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
Facilitation of orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility
Vocational training
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F11579
| Background | Labour migration has long been a cornerstone of economic and social development in the ASEAN region, with millions of workers moving both within and beyond ASEAN borders in search of better employment opportunities. The region hosts around 11 million migrant workers—40 per cent of whom are women. Countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore employ large numbers of workers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Migrant workers are often low-skilled and employed in low-paid sectors such as agriculture construction, fisheries, and manufacturing, which heightens their vulnerability. Most have low levels of education and limited access to skills development, further restricting their opportunities for decent work and career advancement. Corruption—both structural and individual—undermines fair recruitment, while irregular migration remains widespread due to costly and complex regular pathways. These challenges highlight the urgent need for more inclusive, transparent, and rights-based labour migration governance. Further efforts at both ASEAN and national levels are essential to address these issues, incl. by strengthening the implementation and monitoring of key policy frameworks such as the ASEAN Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition, and Development for Migrant Workers and various national migration policies. |
| Objectives | Migrant workers in ASEAN benefit from enhanced livelihoods through improved access to skills development, protection, and safe pathways, and enhanced regional migration governance. |
| Target groups |
|
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: ASEAN strengthen effective regional dialogue and coordination to reinforce mechanisms, practices and capacities on labour migration, skills development and protection of migrant workers’ rights among governments, employers, workers, and civil society organizations. Outcome 2: ASEAN Member States and stakeholders strengthen rights-based laws and policy frameworks, practices and institutional capacity to govern labour migration, promote migrant workers access to skills and decent work and translates regional commitments into national action. Outcome 3: Migrant workers, particularly women, are empowered to make informed migration decisions, access essential services and protection throughout all stages of the migration cycle and benefit from skills development and recognition. |
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: Selected key results from the previous SDC-funded PROMISE project: Key insights from PROMISE: |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Academic and Research Institution United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors |
MBHR (IOM), PROTECT (IOM), Ship to Shore (ILO), RECOTwin (GIZ). SDC funded VSD projects such as DEY in Cambodia, VTESS and STAF in Lao PDR, VSDP in Myanmar, and ASTI at the regional level. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 8’200’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 400’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 15’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 01.03.2026 - 31.03.2031 (Current phase) |