ASEAN leaders pledge to ensure no one left behind in changing world of work

HANOI -- Leaders from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work at its 36th summit, which is chaired by Vietnam via video conference on Friday.

The leaders committed to equipping the ASEAN's human resources with the competencies to get them to be future-ready, thereby enabling them to actively contribute to the sustainable development, competitiveness and resilience of the ASEAN, protecting them from potential adverse impacts of disruptive technologies, enabling them to manage just transition, and ensuring that no one is left behind in this changing world of work, according to the declaration.

The declaration mentioned that the leaders resolved to enhance the cooperation between the bloc and its external partners, including international organizations, to facilitate the sharing of models, good practices, and experiences in advancing human resource development in a changing world of work.

The leaders are aware of the changing world of work due to technological advances, the demographic transition, and greening economies, that offer both opportunities and challenges to the economies, industries and employment in the region, read the document.

According to the declaration released on Friday, the leaders also determined to establish the ASEAN Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council as a platform for coordination, research, and development on innovations, and monitoring of regional programs that support the advancement of TVET in the region.

The 36th ASEAN summit had been scheduled for April in central Vietnam's Da Nang but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.