Against the backdrop of the double disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis, and by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and other megatrends impacting labour markets worldwide, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted, at the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits on 26 October 2021, the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Competitiveness, Resilience, and Agility of Workers for the Future of Work1 , hereafter in this document referred to as the Declaration. The Declaration was the output of the 26th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) convened in October 2020 as Indonesia’s deliverable under its ALMM Chairmanship 2020-2022. It manifests the willingness of ASEAN Labour Ministers to recover labour and employment conditions and economic growth in the aftermath of the pandemic and in confronting ongoing challenges.

This Guidance Document serves as a flexible toolkit, allowing ASEAN Member States to adapt and implement the guidelines based on their unique contexts and priorities. By complementing other relevant ASEAN commitments and declarations, it aims to foster synergy and harmonious collaboration across the region, ultimately promoting a prosperous and inclusive future of work for all. The relevant commitments and declarations include the Joint Statement of ASEAN Labour Ministers on Response to the Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Labour and Employment, the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development and the Changing World of Work and its Roadmap; the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on the Future of Work; the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth in ASEAN; the ASEAN Consolidated Strategy on the 4IR; and the ASEAN TVET Council’s Work Plan 2021-2030.