Overview
Technological advances, demographic transition, and the rise of green economy offer both opportunities and challenges for workers and businesses in the ASEAN Community. Having a vibrant demography, ASEAN continues to show commitment in preparing its human resources and businesses for these transformative changes on the future of work.
ASEAN places green jobs as high priority in the future of work agenda. ASEAN is undertaking a range of knowledge development activities to promote the policy ecosystem and workforce to be ready for these jobs.
As ASEAN is moving towards ASEAN community in 2025, ASEAN envisions a work environment with enhanced competitiveness, productive employment, safe, harmonious and progressive workplace with adequate social protection. One of the critical areas to pursue in the development of ASEAN workforce is improving the inclusiveness, responsiveness, and cohesiveness of its labour, educational, economic policies and institutional frameworks. This will develop qualified, competent, and well-prepared workers that would benefit from, as well as cope with the challenges of the regional integration.
Development of human resource is at the heart of ASEAN strategic objectives and investing in HRD is made more urgent with the accelerated pace of the rapidly changing business models and shifting employment landscape. ASEAN is resolved to manage and build a preventative Occupational and Safety Health (OSH) with the capabilities to anticipate and respond to new and emerging work-related safety and health risks.
Social protection is one of the most important political agendas in the region and a pivotal element in achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth,. ASEAN has embarked on regional studies on social protection initiatives and provided feedback for a comprehensive approach towards effective social security policies, particularly for informal workers and those in new forms of employment.
As transition to the future of work is expected to impact the availability of jobs, organisation of work, and skills requirements, ASEAN Member States have jointly established mutual cooperation to ensure that their migration policies and programmes are ready to respond to these shifts and ensure that the rights of migrant workers are and will continue to be protected and promoted.
The continued cooperation on labour through workforce enhancement and decent work promotion will ultimately contribute towards a shared vision of a better quality of life, productive employment, and adequate social protection for ASEAN peoples.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
Building on past cooperation and common interests and priorities shared among ten ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Labour Ministers (ALM) Work Programme 2016-2020 envisioned “a better quality of life for ASEAN people through workforce with enhanced competitiveness and engaged in safe and decent work derived from productive employment, harmonious and progressive workplace, and adequate social protection.” This objective continues to guide the ALM Work Programme for 2021-2025, which is expected to attain the four Key Result Areas of skilled and adaptable workforce; productive employment; harmonious, safe and progressive workplace; and expanded social protection.
Major Sectoral Bodies/Committees
Labour sector plays an integral role in national development as well as in regional integration. The ASEAN cooperation on labour is led by the ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM) which meets every two years and is supported by the Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM). Since the historical 1st ALMM in April 1975 in Jakarta, Indonesia, the ASEAN cooperation on labour has continuously grown in depth and scope.
SLOM is supported by three Subsidiary Bodies namely: Senior Labour Officials Meeting Working Group on Progressive Labour Practices to Enhance the Competitiveness of ASEAN (SLOM-WG); ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW); and ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET).
Through its work plan, SLOM-WG encourages the adoption of progressive labour flexibility in the labour markets for economic growth and job creation. Its efforts are translated to several thematic areas including efforts on thematic areas including labour market information system, skills development including technical and vocational education and training (TVET), skills recognition, promotion of inclusive employment, promotion of productivity of workers including workers in informal sector, social protection for workers, capacity building on tripartism and labour dispute and labour justice.
ACMW focuses its work on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers in the region. The main objectives of the ACMW include ensuring the effective implementation of the commitments made under the Cebu Declaration and facilitating the development of an ASEAN instrument on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers.
ASEAN-OSHNET aims to promote cooperation in improving occupational safety and health (OSH) in the workplace in the ASEAN region. As the oldest subsidiary body of SLOM, ASEAN-OSHNET also serves as a platform to exchange experience and information in the field of OSH standards, training, research, OSH inspection and national framework, and HIV prevention and control in the workplace.
Key Documents
ASEAN Member States are committed to prepare ASEAN workforce for the future of work. Some of the most recent commitments include:
ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN Community,
ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work and its multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder Roadmap,
As a response to the adverse impact of COVID-19 on workers, the Joint Statement of ASEAN Labour Ministers on Response to the Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Labour and Employment was adopted in May 2020
- 28th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (28th ALMM) Joint Communique (2024)
- 13th ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting (13th ALMM+3) Joint Statement (2024)
- 27th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (27th ALMM) Joint Communique (2022)
- 12th ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers’ Meeting (12th ALMM+3) Joint Statement (2022)
- Joint Statement of The Twelfth ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (12th ALMM+3)
- The 26th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM) (2020)
- The Eleventh ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM+3) (2020)
- The Tenth ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM+3) (2018)
- The 25th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (2018)
- The Ninth ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (2016)
- The Twenty Fourth ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (2016)
- The ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (2010)
- The 21st ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (2010)
- The Twentieth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2008)
- The ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (2008)
- The ASEAN Plus Three Labour Ministers Meeting (2006)
- The Nineteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2006)
- The Eighteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2004)
- The Seventeenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2003)Joint Press Statement of The Special ASEAN+3 Senior Labour Officials Meeting on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS Makati, Metro Manila, The Philippines, 2-3 July 2003
- Joint Communiqué The Seventeenth ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting 8-9 May 2003, Mataram, Indonesia
- Joint Statement of the ASEAN+3 Labour Ministers Meeting Mataram, Indonesia 9 May 2003
- The Sixteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2002)
- The Fifteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2001)
- Vision and Mission Statement of the ASEAN Labour Ministers
- The Fourteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (2000)
- The Thirteenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1999)
- The Twelfth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1998)
- The Eleventh Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1996)
- The Tenth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1994)
- The Ninth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1992)
- The Eighth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1990)
- The Seventh Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1988)
- The Sixth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1986)
- The Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1984)
- The Fourth Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1982)
- The Third Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1980)
- The Second Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1977)
- The Special Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1976)
- The First Meeting of the ASEAN Labour Ministers (1975)
- ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work and Its Roadmap
- ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work
- Terms of Reference of the ASEAN TVET Council
- Joint Statement of ASEAN Labour Ministers on Response to the Impact of COVID-19 on Labour and Employment
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Joint Statement on Green Initiative to The 108th International Labour Conference
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on the future of work: Embracing Technology for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
- Action Plan 2018-2025 to Implement the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers [Extract Version for Public Sharing]”
- ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN
Community - List of ASEAN-OSHNET Initiatives to Implement the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on
Improving Occupational Safety and Health for Sustainable Economic Growth - Regional Action Plan of Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN
- ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers [Publication]
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on Improving occupational Safety and Health for Sustainable Economic Growth
- ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers
- Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN
- ASEAN Leaders Statement on Human Resources and Skills Development for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth
- ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, Cebu, Philippines, 13 January 2007
Terms of Reference and other relevant documents
- Terms of Reference of ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour
- Terms of Reference of ASEAN Labour Inspection Committee and ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference
- Terms of Reference of the ASEAN-OSHNET Award
- Terms of Reference, Rules of Procedures, and Work Plan (2021-2030) of ASEAN TVET Council
- ASEAN Initiatives on the Prevention and Control of HIV and AIDS in the Workplace, including:
Recommendations of the ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference (ALIC)
- Recommendations of the 1st – 6th ALIC
- Recommendations of the 7th ALIC
- Recommendations of the 8th ALIC
- Recommendation of the 9th ALIC
- Recommendation of the 10th ALIC
- Conclusions and Recommendations of the 11th ALIC
- Conclusions and Recommendations of the 12th ALIC
- Conclusions and Recommendations of the 13th ALIC
ASEAN Labour Ministers Work Programme and Work Plans of Subsidiary Bodies of SLOM
- ASEAN Labour Inspection Committee (ALICOM) Work Plan 2022-2030
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ (ALM) Work Programme 2021-2025 And Work Plans of the Subsidiary Bodies
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ (ALM) Work Programme 2016-2020 and Work Plans of the Subsidiary Bodies 2016-2020
- ASEAN Labour Ministers’ (ALM) Work Programme 2010-2015
- Work Plans of Subsidiary bodies of SLOM 2010-2015
- ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW) Work Plan
- Work Plan of the Senior Labour Officials Meeting Working Group on Progressive Labour Practices to Enhance the Competitiveness of ASEAN (SLOM-WG) (2009-2010)
ASEAN Guidelines
- Checklist for ASEAN Member State Governments, Labour Recruiter and Employers on Fair Recruitment and Decent Employment Practices
- ASEAN Declaration on the Placement and Protection of Migrant Fishers and its Guidelines
- ASEAN Declaration of on Portability of Social Security Benefits for Migrant Workers in ASEAN and its Guidelines
- Vientiane Declaration on Skills Mobility, Recognition and Development for Migrant Workers and its Checklist
- ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Competitiveness, Resilience and Agility of Workers for the Future of Work and its Guidance Document
- ASEAN Declaration on the Protection of Migrant Workers and Family Members in Crisis Situations and Its Guidelines
- ASEAN Guidelines on HIV Counselling and Testing in the Workplace
- Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Risk Management for Small and Medium Enterprises in ASEAN Member States
- ASEAN Guideline on Gender Mainstreaming Into Labour and Employment Policies Towards Decent Work for All
- ASEAN-OSHNET’s Guide for the Development of a Common Risk Management Framework
- ASEAN Guiding Principles for Quality Assurance and Recognition of Competency Certification Systems
- ASEAN Guidelines for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on Labour
- ASEAN Guidelines on Essential Workplace Action for Enterprises on the Prevention and Management of HIV and AIDS in ASEAN Member States
- ASEAN Guidelines on Good Industrial Relations Practice
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Khmer
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Indonesian Language
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Lao
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Thai language
- ASEAN Guidelines on Effective Return and Reintegration of Migrant Workers in Vietnamese language
Compendium and Repository of Legislations and Policies
- Compendium on Migrant Workers‘ Education and Safe Migration Programmes
- Repository Matrix of Legislations and Policies on Migrant Workers of ASEAN Member States
- Policy Repository on Migrant Workers’ Legislation and Practices of ASEAN Member States
Studies
- Promotion of Business Engagement Models for Upskilling and Reskilling the ASEAN
- Regional Mapping of Labour Market Information for Skills and Employment Policies in ASEAN Member States
- Research on Migrant Workers’ Rights-Based Standard Employment Contract for Domestic Work in ASEAN
- ASEAN Employment Outlook – The Quest for Decent Work in Platform Economy: Issues, Opportunities and Ways Forward
- Research on Economic Justification of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Implementation in the Construction Sector
- Study Report on the Portability of Social Security Rights between ASEAN Member States
- Managing Technology’s Implications for Work, Workers, and Employment Relationships in ASEAN
- Regional Study on Green Jobs Policy Readiness in ASEAN
- Comparative Study on Laws and Policies in the Management of Migrant Workers in ASEAN
- Old-Age Income Security in ASEAN Member States – Policy Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
- Regional Study Report on Human Resources Development (HRD) Readiness in ASEAN
- Regional Study Report on Labour Productivity in ASEAN
- Regional Study on Informal Employment Statistics to Support Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN
- Study on Women Migrant Workers in the ASEAN Economic Community
- Projected Gender Impact of the ASEAN Economic Community
- Comparative Labour Laws and Practices in ASEAN Vol II
- Regional Study on Extension of Social Security to Workers in Informal Economy in the ASEAN Region
- ASEAN Migration Outlook
- Regional Study Report of Enhancing the Competitiveness of Human Resources through Responsive TVET Curriculum Supported by Involvement of Industries and Labour Market Information
- Country Report: Brunei Darussalam
- Country Report: The Kingdom of Cambodia
- Country Report: Republic of Indonesia
- Country Report: Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Country Report: Malaysia
- Country Report: Republic of the Union of Myanmar
- Country Report: Republic of the Philippines
- Country Report: Republic of Singapore
- Country Report: Kingdom of Thailand
- Country Report: Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
- Regional Study on Women Migrant Workers in the Laws and Policies of ASEAN Member States
Awards
- Company Profiles of the 5th ASEAN – OSHNET Awardees
- Company Profiles of the 5th ASEAN Red Ribbon for Outstanding Workplace (ARROW) Awardees 2024
- Company Profiles of the 2nd-4th ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees
- List of the Third ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees in 2021;
- Compilation of Profiles of the Third ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees at the 3rd ASEAN-OSHNET Award Ceremony, 27 July 2021, Vientiane, Lao PDR and virtual
- List of the First ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees in 2016;
- Compilation of Profiles of the First ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees at the 1st ASEAN-OSHNET Award Ceremony, 28 April 2016, Da Nang, Viet Nam
- List of the First ASEAN Red Ribbon Award for Outstanding Work Places (ARROW) in 2016;
- List of the Second ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees in 2018;
- Compilation of Profiles of the Second ASEAN-OSHNET Awardees at the 2nd ASEAN-OSHNET Award Ceremony, 3 April 2018, Siem Reap, Cambodia; and
- Recommendations of the 3rd AFML: “Awareness and Information Services to Protect the Rights of Migrant Workers”, 19-20 July 2010, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
- Recommendations of the 4th AFML: “Public Information Campaigns and Return and Reintegration”, 24-25 October 2011, Bali, Indonesia
- Recommendations of the 5th AFML: “Effective Recruitment Practices and Regulations”, 9-10 October 2012, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Recommendations of the 6th AFML: “Enhancing Protection of Migrant Workers through Data Sharing and Access to Legal Support Services, including Complaints Mechanisms”, 26-27 November 2013, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
- Recommendations of the 7th AFML: “Measures to Protect and Promote the Rights of Migrant Workers, Employment and Working Conditions and Coordination”, 20-21 November 2014, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
- Recommendations of the 8th AFML: “Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers through OSH and Labour Inspection”, 26-27 October 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Recommendations of the 9th AFML: “Strengthened Social Protection for Migrant Workers”, 9-10 November 2016, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Recommendations of the 10th AFML: “Towards Achieving Decent Work for Domestic Workers in ASEAN”, 26-27 October 2017, Manila, the Philippines
- Recommendations of the 11th AFML: ” Digitalisation to Promote Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN”, 29-30 October 2018, Singapore
- Recommendations of the 12th AFML: “Future of Work and Migration”, 25-26 September 2019, Bangkok, Thailand
- Recommendations of the 13th AFML: “Supporting Migrant Workers during the Pandemic for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community” 10 and 12 November 2020, Hanoi, Viet Nam and Virtual
- Recommendations of the 14th AFML: “Recovery and Labour Migration in the Post-Pandemic Future in ASEAN” 6 and 8 September 2021, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam and Virtual
- Recommendations of the 15th AFML: “Resumption of Labour Migration and Regional Cooperation”, 19-20 October 2022, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Virtual
- Recommendations of the 16th AFML “Enhancing the Effectiveness of Legal Pathways for Labour Migration in ASEAN”, 25-26 October 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Virtual
- Recommendations of the 17th AFML “Care Work and Labour Migration”, 13-14 November 2024, Vientiane, Lao PDR, and virtual.
- Recommendations of the 18th AFML “Accelerating Action Towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Safe Migration and Decent Work for Migrant Workers in ASEAN”, 9-10 September 2025 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Good Practices and Lessons Learned on Occupational Safety and Health Initiatives for Workers in SMall and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Informal Economy
- Training for Success – Inspiring Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Stories from the ASEAN Plus Three Countries
- Compilation of ASEAN Good Practices on the Implementation of Policies and Programmes on the Prevention and Management of HIV and AIDS in the Workplace
- Maternity Protection for Female Workers: Laws and Practices in ASEAN
- ASEAN-OSHNET: Turning Visions into Actions: Celebrating 15 Years of Collaboration
- ASEAN Roadmap on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2025
