Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Minister of Manpower Yassierli is championing skill development and worker protection at the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 26-27.
“Indonesia is voicing the urgency of preparing the ASEAN workforce to keep pace with the rapidly evolving world of work,” Yassierli said in a statement received here in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He noted technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, and shifting industry demand present shared challenges.
The issues need to be addressed by strengthening skills, improving labor market information, enhancing employment services, and expanding protections for workers.
The topic aligns with the follow-up discussions on the “ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Competitiveness, Resilience, and Agility of Workers for the Future of Work” and its guiding documents.
“We cannot navigate the shifting world of work alone. Indonesia must actively help shaping the direction of ASEAN’s labor cooperation, so that this transformation creates opportunities for workers rather than leaving them behind, while ensuring they remain protected,” Yassierli said.
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In addition to workforce readiness in navigating future work, Indonesia will also raise the issue of worker protection, including for migrant workers.
Through its participation at the forum, Indonesia will present progress on key ASEAN commitments, including the protection and placement of migrant workers in the fishing sector, as well as support for migrant workers and their families amid crises.
Furthermore, Indonesia will also strengthen cooperation with its global partners, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The partnerships include support for skill development, employment services, decent work, and the protection of migrant workers.
“ASEAN cooperation must deliver tangible benefits for workers. It goes beyond discussing change to ensure workers have the opportunity to upskill, secure better jobs, and stay protected as the landscape shifts,” Minister Yassierli remarked.
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Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Raka Adji
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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