REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government continues to encourage ASEAN member countries to establish a legal instrument to protect the interests of the migrant workers in the region.

"We have always advocated in favor of the protection of migrant workers in the ASEAN region," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi said here on Monday.

At various ASEAN meetings, the Indonesian government emphasized the importance of protecting migrant workers.

"We have been always highlighting the issue of migrant workers in every meeting consistently," the minister said.

The minister attended the ASEAN Foreign Minister Meeting (AMM) Retreat in Vientiane, Laos, from February 27 and 28.

The minister remarked that the government focused on the welfare and protection of migrant workers in ASEAN.

"There are thousands of Indonesian migrant working in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia," the minister stated.

Therefore, the minister expected that ASEAN countries would arrive at a deal for the establishment of legal instruments that guarantee the rights of migrant workers.

"There should be a preliminary agreement to formulate such legal instruments. Then, the instrument will be negotiated," the minister said.

Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister urged the ASEAN member countries to work more closely to encourage the implementation of the ASEAN Community as part of an effort to achieve concrete results and advantages.

The minister affirmed that ASEAN should lead in establishing the regional architecture in the region and at the global level.

During the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) Retreat, Marsudi also held a bilateral meeting with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakhrisnan, and Acting Foreign Minister of Philippine Laura Q. Del Rosario to discuss bilateral cooperation.

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