The following include some of the identified problems and recommended policy options for both the EU and ASEAN governments to consider:

The predicted decline of key manufacturing sectors such as in the apparel industry where
women workers are a majority could lead to job losses, deteriorating wages and working
conditions, and increased labour contractualisation. While social safety nets have been the
usual recourse to soften the impact of dislocation, these measures should be coupled by a
more prudent and targeted liberalisation policy or scheme that takes into account the
vulnerabilities of certain sectors, especially in terms of possible job losses for men and
women. A targeted liberalisation scheme should also consider the importance of retaining
FDI policy instruments and domestic regulations that are vital for national development.   

Women’s double burden is compounded by the privatisation of essential public services
that are important for their social reproductive work. Energy, water and other basic utilities
that the EU is targeting for private investment by European corporations are crucial public
goods that should not be subject to the vagaries of the market nor to the profit-making
motives of private capital. 

Women migrant workers’ rights should always be protected and should be taken into consideration under Mode 4 of services liberalisation. Developed countries like the EU should initiate measures that will compensate for the effect of “care drain” in sending countries. These could include cooperation and financial assistance for public hospitals and other health care services, medical school scholarships and other similar forms of assistance in exchange for every migrant health professional sent to their country. 

The EU’s protectionist policies in agriculture should be dismantled to protect the livelihoods
of small farmers in developing countries and to ensure food security for all. Unilateral
moves by the EU to substantially cut and eliminate its trade-distorting subsidies can be
considered without waiting for the conclusion of talks in the WTO. While the EU’s
cooperation and technical assistance for ASEAN’s harmonisation of standards is a positive
step, the EU should couple this with specific mechanisms ensuring that priority is given to
small farmer producers.   

The chapter on trade and sustainable development that is contained in the EU’s bilateral FTAs is a welcome move because it has provisions for promoting adherence to agreed standards in the social and environmental  domain, including ILO core labour standards. This chapter, moreover, could further be expanded and substantiated in  order to incorporate gender  concerns as an integral element in every aspect of the agreement. While such social clauses may be positive steps, utmost caution should however be taken to avoid the  exclusionary and prohibitive implications of imposing these standards. ASEAN countries should be assisted by the EU in building the capacity, especially of small and medium enterprises, to abide by these standards.