Regional Policy Dialogue: Policy Innovations for the Digital Transitions in the Labour Market

The policy dialogue will foster a rich exchange of knowledge and good practices, thereby empowering policymakers through peer-to-peer learning and the sharing of practical insights, based on the principles of South-South Cooperation.

Background

The rapid advancement of digital technologies in recent years has revolutionised the landscape of labour markets in South-East Asia and around the world, presenting challenges to policymakers while also offering new tools and opportunities to address these very challenges posed by the digital transition.

A notable technology-driven development in the labour market is the emergence of digital labour platforms, which have become a significant force, reshaping the nature of work and employment. According to the ASEAN Employment Outlook 2023, the ASEAN economy has witnessed a substantial impact from this digital transition. Notably, the ride-hailing and food delivery markets in Indonesia alone have reached a value of around US$7 billion, reflecting the substantial economic contribution of these platforms. These platforms have opened up new work opportunities, engaging millions of workers across various sectors such as delivery, logistics, and food services.

The digital revolution, including the rapid growth and novel nature of digital labour platforms, has created new and complicated challenges to the world of work. Governments are grappling to adequately respond to the rapid pace of labour market changes brought about by digitalisation, automation and new forms of work as public policies and regulatory frameworks to protect and prepare workers lag behind this digital transformation. In this regard, South-South and Triangular cooperation and peer learning can be used as methodologies for accelerating exchanges among countries in South-East Asia and enhancing digital technology.

Objectives

In the context of the fast-evolving labour market landscape, the regional policy dialogue, an initiative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) with support of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) of the People’s Republic of China, will focus on deeply discussing the challenges policymakers face due to the growing digital economy and its impact on the labour market, including the intricate nature of digital platform work. Furthermore, the meeting will highlight the innovative strategies that governments and policymakers are implementing while utilising technology as a powerful tool to effectively address challenges posed by the digital transformation in the world of work.

This policy dialogue adopts a South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) approach, accelerating peer learning and sharing of best practices among developing countries that face similar challenges in terms of policies and institutions. This approach is results-oriented, with interventions that directly benefit the constituents of the International Labour Organization (ILO), promote national ownership, and support subregional, regional, and inter-regional processes. It includes the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSPs) with experts and policymakers.

The primary goal of this policy dialogue is to foster a rich exchange of knowledge and good practices, thereby empowering policymakers through peer-to-peer learning and the sharing of practical insights, based on the principles of South-South cooperation. This initiative aims to equip policymakers with the necessary expertise to design and implement employment and labour market policies to confront the challenges and capitalising on the opportunities that stem from the ongoing digital transformation and its profound influence on the world of work.

Research brief on Employment challenges and policies in ASEAN

This research brief, supported by the ILO ProSSCE-ASEAN project, provides a comprehensive analysis of employment challenges in South-East Asia to identify key policy recommendations to address these issues. The findings will be presented at the Regional Policy Dialogue: Policy Innovations for the Digital Transitions in the Labour Market. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of more effective and inclusive employment policies and strategies in the region, ensuring that no one is left behind, in particular vulnerable groups such as youth, women and persons with disabilities.

Link to research brief: Employment challenges and policies in ASEAN | International Labour Organization (ilo.org)