Norm Contestation and Regional Governance: The Politics of Social Security Portability in ASEAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26905/j-tragos.v4i1.16301Keywords:
ASEAN, migrant workers, norm contestation, portabilility, social securityAbstract
This article analyzes the dynamics of conflicting norms regarding the portability of social security for migrant workers in ASEAN, particularly the political tensions between sending and receiving countries. In line with global norms, sending countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines promote portability as a fundamental right for migrant workers. Conversely, receiving countries such as Singapore and Malaysia are more cautious, viewing it as a labor issue, not a fundamental right. The research aims to analyze how these divergent interpretations shape ASEAN’s regional governance of migrant protection and to identify the underlying political and normative factors that influence the process of regionalization. Using Antje Wiener's theory of norm contestation, this study, through qualitative methods, demonstrates the gap between global expectations and normative practices in ASEAN. The findings reveal a persistent gap between global expectations and ASEAN’s normative practices. While ASEAN has made progress in formalizing cooperation, the implementation remains fragmented and state-driven, reflecting competing interests between economic pragmatism and human rights advocacy. In conclusion, the regionalization of social security is not simply a matter of applying international standards to a regional region, but rather a political negotiation shaped by competing state interests.
Downloads
References
Abdulai, R. T., & Owusu-Ansah, A. (2014). Essential Ingredients of a Good Research Proposal for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students in the Social Sciences. Sage Open, 4(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014548178
Adiba, H. H., & Viani Puspita Sari. (2023). Diplomasi Perlindungan bagi Pekerja Migran Domestik Indonesia di Singapura. Jurnal Hubungan Luar Negeri, 8(1), 90=114.
ASEAN Secretariat. (2022). ASEAN Migration Outlook (1st Edition).
Asis, R. P., & Maningat, C. L. (2022). The “ ASEAN Way ” in Migration Governance. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39814-8
Auethavornpipat, R. (2019). Migrant Worker Rights and Norm Contestation in Southeast Asia: Establishing Meaning-in-Use through Social Interaction. The Australian National University.
Bal, C. S., & Gerard, K. (2017). ASEAN’s governance of migrant worker rights. Third World Quarterly, 39(4), 799–819. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2017.1387478
Basir, S. M. (2020). Irregular Migrations in Southeast Asia: Challenges for Protection and Migration. Indonesian Journal of International Law, 17(2), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol17.2.782
Björkdahl, A. (2002). Norms in International Relations: Some Conceptual and Methodological Reflections. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 15(1), 9–23.
Capie, D. (2008). Localization as Resistance : The Contested Diffusion of Small Arms Norms in Southeast Asia International ( IR ) scholarship over. 39(6), 637–658. https://doi.org/10.1177/0967010608098213
Capie, D. (2012). The Responsibility to Protect Norm in Southeast Asia: Framing, Resistance and the Localization Myth. The Pacific Review, 25(1), 75–93. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2011.632967
Ciorciari, J. D., Human, S., Quarterly, R., August, N., & Ciorciari, J. D. (2012). Institutionalizing Human Rights in Southeast Asia. 34(3), 695–725.
Cook, S., & Pincus, J. (2014). Poverty , Inequality and Social Protection in Southeast Asia An Introduction. 31(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1355/ae31-la
Creswell, J. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed). SAGE Publications.
Doyle, N. (2014). The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration and The Implications of Recent Southeast Asian Initiatives in Human Rights Institution-Building and Standard-Setting. The International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 63(1), 67–101.
EG Tan, E., & Ang, B. (2022). ASEAN Ambiguity on International Law and Norms for Cyberspace. Baltic Yearbook of International Law Online, 20(1), 133–162. https://doi.org/10.1163/22115897_02001_008
Fehl, C., & Rosert, E. (2020). It‘s Complicated: A Conceptual Framework for Studying Relations and Interactions between International Norms. Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep26156
Fornalé, E. (2017). Global–regional interaction to extend access to social protection for migrant workers: Insights from ASEAN and MERCOSUR. International Social Security Review, 70(3), 31–52.
Gerard, K. (2018). ASEAN as a “Rules-based Community”: Business as Usual. ASEAN STUDIES REVIEW, 42(2), 210–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2018.1444016
Goh, C., Wee, K., & Yeoh, B. S. A. (2017). Migration governance and the migration industry in Asia: Moving domestic workers from Indonesia to Singapore. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific, 17(3), 401–433. https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcx010
Goldblatt, B. (2014). Social Security in South Africa – a Gender and Human Rights Analysis Author ( s ): Beth Goldblatt Source : Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / Law and Politics in Africa , Asia and Latin America , 2014 , Vol . 47 , No . 1 , Thematic Issue : Innovation in So. 47(1), 22–42.
Hall, A., Manajit, S., & Nga Na, M. T. T. (2011). Migrant Workers’ Rights to Social Protection in ASEAN - Case Studies of Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. In Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Hanani, R., Naibaho, S. M., & Sugiarto, B. (2025). Role of Labor Unions in Enhancing Policy Learning in Health Insurance Expansion at the Local Level. Journal of Transformative Governance and Social Justice, 3(2), 121–136. https://doi.org/10.26905/j-tragos.v3i2.15523
Holzmann, R. (2018). The portability of social benefits across borders : With rising international migration, how transferable are benefits, and how can transferability be increased? https://doi.org/10.15185/izawol.452
Holzmann, R., & Koettl, J. (2012). Portability of Pension, Health, and Other Social Benefits: Facts, Concepts, and Issues (CESifo Working Paper Series No. 4002).
HRWorld. (2025, March 17). Philippines advocates enhanced social security for migrant workers at ILO session. HRWorld. https://hrsea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/82-of-women-say-hybrid-work-models-enhance-productivity-report/119096945
Kaur, A. (2010). Labour Migration in Southeast Asia: Migration Policies, Labour Exploitation and Regulation. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 15(1), 6–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547860903488195
Kothari, J. (2014). A Social Rights Model for Social Security : Learnings from India Author. 47(1), 5–21. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43239719
Krennerich. (2014). Social Security – Just as much a Human Right in Developing Countries and Emerging Markets. Law and Politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America, 47(1). https://www.jstor.org/stable/43239724
Langlois, A. J. (2025). LGBT rights claiming and political participation in Southeast Asia. The Pacific Review, 38(2), 262–284. https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2024.2368225
Millard, D. (2008). Migration and the portability of social security benefits: The position of non-citizens in the Southern African Development Community. African Human Rights Law Journal, 8(2), 37–59.
Ministry of State Secretariat. (2017). Presiden Jokowi Tanda Tangani Kesepakatan Perlindungan Pekerja Migran di ASEAN. https://www.setneg.go.id/baca/index/presiden_jokowi_tanda_tangani_kesepakatan_perlindungan_pekerja_migran_di_asean
Mpedi, L. G., & Nyenti, M. A. T. (2017). Towards an Instrument for the Portability of Social Security Benefits in the Southern African Development Community. SUN PRESS imprint.
Myanmar News Agency. (2024). Myanmar discusses Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers. https://www.gnlm.com.mm/myanmar-discusses-portability-of-social-security-benefits-for-migrant-workers/
Neuman, W. L. (2014). Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (7th ed.). Pearson Education.
Pasadilla, G., & Abella, M. (2012). Social Protection for Migrant Workers in ASEAN (3914).
Pasadilla, G. O. (2011). Social Security and Labor Migration in ASEAN (34; Issue November).
Paul, R. (2017). Welfare without borders: unpacking the bases of transnational social protection for international migrants. Oxford Development Studies, 45(1), 33–46.
Raharja, D. P. (2022). Finding Human Rights Concencus: Indonesia as a Contructive Force in AICHR. Jurnal Dinamika Global, 7(01), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.36859/jdg.v7i01.955
Ramesh, M. (2014). Social Protection in Indonesia and the Philippines: Work in Progress. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 31(1), 40–56. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43264698
Sari, Y. R. (2023). Analisis kebijakan manfaat jaminan sosial pekerja migran Indonesia. Jurnal Jamsostek. Jurnal Jamsostek, 1(2)(179). https://doi.org/10.61626/jamsostek.v1i2.16
Srinivas, S. and S. S. (2021). Chapter 1 Regional Labour Migration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Background and Context. In Understanding Relevant Sustainable Development Goal Targets Related to Labour Migration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations During the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic (Issue 04, pp. 1–14). ERIA.
Sundrijo, D. A. (2021). Regionalizing Global Human Rights Norms in Southeast Asia. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54798-1
Sundrijo, D. A., & Safitri, D. (2023). Migrant Labour Protection in Asean, in What Way Does Ilo Matter? Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional, 25(2), 95–114. https://doi.org/10.7454/global.v25i2.1313
Syofyan, Y. D. G. (2023). Studi Perbandingan Sistem Jaminan Sosial Antara Indonesia Dan Malaysia Dalam Rangka Pemenuhan Hak Kesehatan Di Indonesia. UNES Journal of Swara Justisia, 208–219. https://doi.org/10.31933/ujsj.v7i1
Taha, N., Messkoub, M., & Siegmann, K. A. (2015). How portable is social security for migrant workers ? A review of the literature (573; 5, Issue 5).
Talleraas, C. (2019). Reconciling transnational mobility and national social security: what say the welfare state bureaucrats? Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 45(1), 151–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2017.1408461
Vyshnovetska, S., Amelicheva, L., Olefir, V., Ierko, G., & Petrenko, G. (2020). Trends in Legal Regulation of Social Protection as a Pilar of Decent Work and A Moving Force of Sustainable Development. Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews, 8(3), 545–552. https://doi.org/10.18510/hssr.2020.8359
Wang, Y. (2024). Balancing Economic Growth and Social Cohesion : Immigration Policies in Singapore. 42, 225–231.
Wiener, A. (2017). A Theory of Contestation—A Concise Summary of Its Argument and Concepts. 49(1), 109–125. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/48569945
Wiener, A. (2020). The Concept of Norm Contestation - Interview with Antje Wiener. January.
Wijayanti, A. (2023). Social Security Provision for International Migrant Workers : Comparing Indonesia and the Philippines. 1, 105–126.
Yin, R. K. (2014). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Yunazwardi, M. I. (2024). Sosialisasi Transnasional (Transnational Socialization): Pemahaman Dasar Mengenai Kajian Norma. In A. W. Soetjipto (Ed.), Memaknai Transnasionalisme: Agen, Struktural, dan Proses dalam Politik Global (pp. 87–97). Pustaka Obor Indonesia dan FISIP UI.
Zulkifli. (2023). Menyusun Tinjauan Pustaka untuk Skripsi, Tesis, dan Disertasi serta sebagai Artikel Ilmiah. Salemba Humanika.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Transformative Governance and Social Justice
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
(1) Copyright of the published articles will be transferred to the journal as the publisher of the manuscripts. Therefore, the author confirms that the copyright has been managed by the journal.
(2) Publisher of the Journal of Transformative Governance and Social Justice (J-TRAGOS) is the University of Merdeka Malang.
(3) The copyright follows Creative Commons Attribution “ShareAlike License (CC BY SA): This license allows to Share” copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, Adapt” remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially.
