This policy brief reviews the level of labour market integration in ASEAN and assesses labour market reforms being undertaken as part of the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) . Key findings:

• Labour migration is already a reality in ASEAN with millions working in other member states both legally and under irregular conditions.
• The ambition of the AEC is that it will “transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.”
• In the area of labour mobility ASEAN is falling short of its stated goals calling into question whether there wi ll be effective free movement of high - skilled labour by the end of 2015.
• Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) are intended to facilitate the movement of professionals by ensuring their qualifications are acknowledged in other ASEAN members. But only a few sectors are currently covered and MRAs do little to overcome other barriers like nationality requirements.