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South China Morning Post

Are migrant workers the real glue cementing Asean-GCC ties?

The second Asean -Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit, held in Malaysia from May 26 to 27, marked a significant step towards deepening ties between Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Advertisement While interregional cooperation is often framed in terms of energy, trade and investment, the bedrock of this relationship is increasingly shaped by people-to-people connectivity, anchored in labour migration, religious devotion and growing financial linkages. As fast-growing regions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the GCC are forming bonds as much through daily human interaction as through strategic interests. In 2022, the combined workforce of the six GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – was estimated at 32 million. Of these, Gulf nationals accounted for just 5.8 million, or 18 per cent, while more than 26 million were foreign workers. Although comprehensive and up-to-date data on the total number of Asean citizens working in the GCC is limited, available figures highlight the Gulf's significance as a destination for Asean labour migrants and a key source of remittances. 01:47 Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails first-ever three-way talks with SE Asia, Gulf nations Chinese Premier Li Qiang hails first-ever three-way talks with SE Asia, Gulf nations Saudi Arabia , the largest country in the GCC, employed about 726,000 Filipinos, 175,000 Indonesians and 164,000 Myanmar nationals, according to its 2022 census. The UAE , the second largest country in the region, hosted about 780,000 Filipinos last year. Kuwait, though smaller in size, is still a popular destination for migrant workers, with more than 223,000 Filipinos living there as of 2024. Most of these migrant workers are employed in sectors such as domestic work, healthcare and construction. Recognising the structural importance of these labour flows, Asean and GCC member states have increasingly sought to institutionalise protection mechanisms through bilateral agreements. For example, the 2017 labour agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines set standards for recruitment and employment practices to ensure the rights and welfare of Filipino workers. Advertisement Indonesia , which imposed a moratorium in 2015 on sending workers to Saudi Arabia amid frequent cases of abuse, is now preparing to lift the ban by the end of this month. This development follows a renewed agreement to strengthen worker protection, including a minimum wage, health and life insurance, and digital integration of recruitment data to monitor irregular practices and improve oversight. These moves point to a clear trend: labour governance is becoming central to Asean-GCC cooperation. Both sides are shifting from ad hoc arrangements to a more structured approach focused on rights, protections and shared responsibility – a sign of a more mature and balanced partnership.