ASEAN member countries are moving towards achieving the ASEAN Economic

Community with the timeline set at 2015

Scholars that are interested in the study of economic integration

share similar definition of Economic Integration. Molle defined
economic integration as the gradual elimination of economic
frontiers between independent states. As the result the economies
of these states end up functioning as one entity (Molle, 2006, p.4).
Kato described economic integration as a legal arrangement
among nations for economic transactions and activities across
national boundaries (Kato, 1998). The term economic integration
can also be described as a staged process through which a group of
state actors or non-state actors gradually merge their economic
policy to eliminate all barriers to their economic cooperation,
starting from discriminative level to indiscriminative level
(Sledziewsk; and United States International Trade Commission,
2010).
Southeast Asia has great potential and so does economic integration
in 2015. According to Rappler, to be able to strengthen the
economic and the community aspects of the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC), both should have equal focus to it.
According to a forum hosted by Chulalongkorn University, the
Philippines is not yet prepared for economic integration. According
to former secretary Gen. Romulo Virola, even if the Philippines is not
yet ready to benefit from the economic integration in 2015, it should
still focus on the issues and concerns of the local economy which
they think should be given equal importance.
Philippines Inc., an alliance of some of the most respected leaders in
the country, has also thrown its support behind RBH 1: By relaxing
the limitations on foreign ownership, the Philippines will be able to
maximize its benefit from the Asean integration and create muchneeded jobs for the Filipino people. To realize inclusive growth, the
country needs to further accelerate the velocity of growth by
instituting a more open policy regime that nurtures a globally
competitive investment climate that must be sustained beyond
political timelines.
Both the government and business should be on the same page,
without which our economic rise might get cut short by Asean
Integration in 2015, leaving us once more to twist in the wind. We
must convert inputs to outputs, and outputs to impacts, to reach the
bottom of the pyramid. As DBM Sec. Butch Abad said, the most
pressing challenge is for us to ensure inclusive economic growth;
that the expansion of the economy creates more jobs and livelihood
opportunities, and contributes meaningfully to poverty reduction.

AccordingtotheIbonbrief,AECintegrationmusttransform
ASEANintoaregionthatistrulypeoplecentred.Thegoalof
integrationshouldnotbasedonbecominganeconomicsuperpower
thatwouldbenefitlocalelitesandtransnationalcorporationsatthe
expenseofpeople.
AccordingtoareportonASEANCommunity2015:Managingintegrationforbetterjobs
andsharedprosperity,Despitesignificantprogress,ASEANmaynotachieveallAEC
targetsbytheDecember2015deadline.Difficultieshavearisenfromstructural
differencesamongMemberStatesandintraregionalconflicts,aswellasfromthe
changingglobaleconomicandpoliticallandscape. 28Nevertheless,economicintegration
canbeseenasalongertermprocessforwhichASEANleadershaveestablishedasolid
base.Continuedprogresswillrequiresustainedpoliticalwill,coordination,capacity
building,andthestrengtheningofnationalandregionalinstitutions.
Asthischapterandtherestofthereportmakeclear,theAECislikelytohavefar
reachingconsequencesforASEANworkersgiventhebreadthanddepthofeconomic
integrationthathasbeenplannedandisbeingimplemented.TheAECisexpectedto
precipitatenationalandregionaltransformationofeconomies,whichinturnwillforce
ASEANMemberStatestoconfrontkeyissuesrelatedtojobgainsandlosses,skills
development,wages,labourmigrationandthestrengtheningofsocialprotectionsystems.
ThetruesuccessoftheAEC,however,willnotbereflectedineithertheAEC
implementationrateattheendof2015ortheextentthattheAECincreasesregionaltrade
andinvestment.ItwillultimatelydependonhowmucheachASEANcitizenprospers
fromdeepereconomicintegration.Whiletheeconomicandpoliticalsecuritydomains
havetakenprecedenceinpriorASEANinitiatives,thesocialandlabourdimensionsmay
nowbecritical

The handbook (ASEAN, 2013) lists the following benefits for tourism professionals
and the industry. The first benefit is facilitation of mobility of tourism professionals
based on tourism competency qualification/certificate. However, the regional
registration does not ensure job opportunity as the host country government has the
discretion whether to recognize the eligibility to work in the country.40 On the other
hand, regional recognition can help potential employers (e.g., hotels) find
professionals from other AMSs who meet certain standards by dramatically reducing
information costs.
There are other benefits aside from mobility of professionals (ASEAN, 2013): (1)
enhance conformity of competency-based training/education, (2) recognize skills of
tourism professionals, (3) improve the quality of tourism human resources, and (4)
enhance the quality of tourism services
One of the challenges in facilitating the movement of natural persons, either
professionals or skilled labour, is the differences in national qualifications across
countries. Such qualifications cover not only the licensing and certification aspects
but also broader qualifications such as basic education, technical and vocational
training, and higher education

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said the arrangement lays the foundation for the
certification of skills and qualifications of working tourism professionals from
different ASEAN countries.
Once fully integrated in 2015, ASEAN-certified tourism professionals who pass the
common competency standards may find employment in various divisions of labor
that are common across various sectors of tourism in member countries, he said.
A tourism professional has to accomplish a set of basic requirements to be qualified
for a particular job.
In effect the program seeks to develop the skills of tourism students or graduates in
the Philippines to enable them to find jobs in any ASEAN member state, said
Jimenez.
He noted that ASEAN tourism sector can greatly contribute to the regional economy
if its attractiveness is accompanied by quality of service.
Having high-skilled tourism workers to deliver services should become a norm to
guarantee satisfaction of tourists visiting the region, said the tourism chief.

At present, there are six labor divisions where tourism professionals

may find employment in ASEAN member countries: namely Front
Office; Housekeeping; Food Production; Food and Beverage Services
(for Hotel Services); Travel Agency; and Tour Operations (for Travel
Services Division)
Furthermore, ASEAN adopted a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on tourism
professionals that will increase the equality of tourism human resources and will
48facilitate the mobility of tourism professionals within the region using the ASEAN
Minimum Competency Standards for Tourism as the basis. In further enhancing
ASEAN as a world-class tourism destination, the ASEAN member states also adopted
the standardization of tourism services covering green hotels, food and beverage
services, public restrooms, home stays, ecotourism, and heritage tourism.