ASEAN responds to changing employment relations in digital economy

HA NOI, 30 July 2019 – ASEAN labour officials and regional social partners got together for a 2-day workshop to discuss the fourth industrial revolution and its effects on jobs, labour markets and nature of employment.

From artificial intelligence and robotics to the platform economy, the recent wave of technological change is bound to have profound effects on the relationships between employers and workers. The biggest and most prominent shift so far seen in the region emerged as a result of the platform economy. ASEAN Member States with its fast-growing digital economies and huge tech-savvy young population stand to be affected in varying degrees by this change in employment relations.

The workshop also discussed the preliminary report of a regional study that provides ASEAN an overview of the way jobs, tasks and skill requirements are changing in response to technological change, particularly the emergence of platform economy work. The study recommendations will be considered by Member States on how labour policies and regulations should evolve to address those changes.

The workshop was attended by ASEAN labour officials, ASEAN CSR Network, ASEAN Confederation of Employers and ASEAN Trade Union Council. Under the coordination of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Viet Nam and with the support of ASEAN Secretariat and JustJobs Network, the study report is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

July 31st, 2019|ASEAN Secretariat News