Senior labour officials from ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste reaffirmed their shared vision for a sustainable, digitally skilled, and socially protected workforce, aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045
The 21st ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (21st SLOM) concluded on 22 October 2025 with a renewed commitment to strengthen regional labour cooperation in the post-2025 landscape. Attended by senior labour officials from all ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste as an observer, the meeting served as a platform to reaffirm the region’s dedication to building an inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready ASEAN Community.
Chaired by Ms Joan Moh, Deputy Secretary (Workplaces) at Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, the meeting underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in advancing decent work, workforce resilience, and employment opportunities across the region. Discussions focused on collective actions to address evolving challenges, including digital transformation, green growth, and demographic shifts affecting the labour market.
The meeting was officially opened by H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia, who highlighted ASEAN’s shared aspirations for solidarity, sustainability, and prosperity. He emphasised the need for a just transition that ensures workers and enterprises benefit equitably from technological and environmental shifts. His remarks also reinforced the importance of enhancing digital competencies and strengthening social protection systems as key enablers of inclusive growth.
In line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the officials explored strategies to future-proof ASEAN’s workforce through skills development, fair labour mobility, and social dialogue. They reaffirmed the commitment to advancing the goals of the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Work Programme and the ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs. These initiatives aim to create adaptable and forward-looking labour policies capable of supporting sustainable economic recovery and transformation.
The 21st SLOM also recognised the need for stronger partnerships between governments, employers, workers, and regional institutions. Such collaborations will ensure that ASEAN’s labour policies remain responsive to global megatrends, including automation, digitalisation, and the transition towards greener economies.
As ASEAN continues to advance its labour cooperation agenda beyond 2025, the meeting reaffirmed a shared resolve: to foster a community where every worker benefits from progress, every enterprise thrives on innovation, and every nation grows together towards an equitable and resilient future.
Source: ASEAN
