Regional conference

ASEAN in transformation: How technology is changing jobs and enterprises

An Executive and Media Briefing is held to launch an Asia regional report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report was released in Singapore in partnership with the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

Background

The ten economies that form the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could face considerable degrees of technological disruptions due to the concentration of labour-intensive manufacturing and services sectors that are characterized with tasks that can be replaced with automation, other digital technologies available today and technologies promised in the near future. As ASEAN continues to develop and strategize for sustained growth, it is critical for employers, workers and their representative organizations, government, and key stakeholders to take into account the impact of technology on workplaces as a centre piece to their policy discussions and to actively prepare and respond to changes taking place at the national level. In addition, constructive engagement between social partners and education and training institutions is critical so that the future workforce has access to meaningful employment.

ACT/EMP has prepared a regional report on the impact of technology on key labour intensive and growth sectors in ASEAN entitled: ASEAN in transformation: How technology is changing jobs and enterprises. The report brings together primary data collected through an ASEAN-wide survey of enterprises (over 4000 responses) and students (over 2,700 responses), over 330 qualitative interviews, and extensive validation and expert consultation.

The report offers an in-depth exploration of three manufacturing sectors: the automotive and auto parts; electrical and electronics; and textile, clothing and footwear; and two service sectors: business process outsourcing and retail, to show how each sector is likely to be impacted by technology uptake. As a supplement to this master report, five additional separate reports will be published as part of the ASEAN in transformation series:

  »   The future of jobs at risk of automation
  »   Perspectives of enterprises and students on future work
  »   Automotive and auto parts - Shifting gears
  »   Electrical and electronics - On and off the grid
  »   Textiles, clothing and footwear - Refashioning the future

Agenda

The half-day media and executive briefing of the ASEAN in transformation series will be held on 7 July at the Mandarin Orchard, Singapore, in partnership with the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). It will present the key findings of the report to approximately 100 CEO's and senior executives from across the region along with international and regional media outlets.

Dr Robert Yap, President of SNEF and Ms Deborah France-Massin, Director of ACT/EMP will join the launch and professional journalist, Jane Peterson (former CNN Business News presenter and reporter) will moderate the event.