Kuala Lumpur: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday emphasized the need to upskill and protect the rights and welfare of Southeast Asian nationals working in Gulf countries. This comes as Marcos noted that over 2.7 million citizens from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries live and work in six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member-states, including professionals and skilled workers.

According to Philippines News Agency, during his intervention at the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia, Marcos stated that the GCC is 'an important region' for the Philippines concerning labor mobility because it accommodates more than two million overseas Filipino workers. He highlighted their significant contributions to the economies of their host countries, as well as to the Philippines and the broader ASEAN region.

Marcos stressed the importance of providing upskilling opportunities and ensuring the protection and promotion of workers' rights and welfare in both regions. He reiterated the Philippines' commitment to deepening the regional bloc's global partnerships, including collaboration with the GCC, as the country is set to chair ASEAN in 2026.

He also emphasized the strength derived from unity between ASEAN and the GCC, indicating plans to build on the progress made and explore new avenues for collaboration. ASEAN member-states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, while the GCC comprises the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.