The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and its affiliates actively participated in the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Review of the Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) from 4 to 6 February 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. BWI reinforced the critical role of trade unions in advancing a rights-based labour migration governance framework that ensures protection, dignity, and fair treatment for migrant workers.

On the first day of the regional review, BWI Asia Pacific Regional Representative Apolinar Z. Tolentino delivered a strong intervention, emphasising the need for governments to integrate GCM indicators into national migration frameworks, ensure inclusive monitoring, and involve trade unions in policymaking. He stressed that migration should be a choice—not a necessity—and urged investment in climate adaptation, social protection, and just transition policies to prevent displacement and exploitation. He also reaffirmed the importance of upholding migrant workers’ rights to organise and to engage in collective bargaining as essential protections against workplace abuses and discrimination.

Additionally, Rama Chandra Khuntia, President of INBCWF, highlighted the need for policy coherence and regional cooperation. He called for stronger ILO engagement in labour migration governance, the ratification of key ILO conventions, the institutionalisation of social dialogue, and the engagement of trade unions in bilateral labour agreements. Ponkumar Ponnuswamy, President of TKTMS, urged governments to eliminate exploitative employer-tied visa schemes, promote ethical recruitment, and provide better protections for undocumented and climate-displaced workers.

BWI calls on governments to implement inclusive and transparent migration policies aligned with GCM objectives and international labour standards. As we move towards the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) in 2026, meaningful migrant participation, fair migration pathways, and robust accountability mechanisms must be prioritised to ensure a just and sustainable future for all workers.