ASEAN Inter Pillar Policy Dialogue on the Impact of ASEAN Economic Integration in Labour Sector

[Press Release]

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia organised the ASEAN inter pillar policy dialogue on the impact of ASEAN economic integration in labour sector with the support of the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The inter pillar policy dialogue was held in Hotel Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 21 March 2016. The inter pillar policy dialogue was officiated by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Adenan Ab Rahman.

Group photos of the participants for the Inter pillar Dialogue. Photo: Courtesy of ASEAN

ASEAN inter pillar policy dialogue on the impact of ASEAN economic integration in labour sector was planned in the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ (ALM) Work Programme 2016 – 2020. It examined the impact of economic integration in labour sector specifically, upon the creation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

The inter pillar policy dialogue brought together senior civil servants of ten ASEAN Member States (AMS) in charge of trade and economy, women’s affairs and labour. The representatives of ASEC, ILO, UN Women, FES, ASEAN Confederation of Employers (ACE), ASEAN Trade Union Council (ATUC), and ASEAN Services Employees Trade Union Council (ASETUC) also joined the dialogue.

The outcome of the inter pillar policy dialogue was a summary of discussion which would be put across to the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting in May 2016, in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

The inter pillar policy dialogue deliberation focused on two studies. The first study was on ASEAN Community 2015: Managing Integration for Better Jobs and Shared Prosperity, which was jointly launched by ILO and Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2014.

The said study projected the accompanying changes in the composition and distribution of jobs in future which consequently lead to challenges in terms of employment gain and loss, skills development, wages and productivity, labour migration and social protection systems. In addition, the study called for ASEAN Member States to address these issues in order to ensure that women, men and vulnerable groups will enjoy benefits of the regional integration.

The second study was on Projected Gender Impact of the ASEAN Economic Community commissioned by UN Women and FES in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee on Women (ACW) and ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) in 2015.

The said study also projected that while the establishment of AEC would lead to an increase in jobs across the region, women would not enjoy much benefit in term of share of opportunities unless deliberated strategies were in place. The said study shows that despite the narrowing in education gap between men and women, there remains job and skill mismatch and institutional barriers to employment for women. Women would continue to be dominant in certain sectors, many of which were informal. In addition, the said study notes that despite women’s participation in employment, they were still expected to carry out domestic responsibilities.

During the Opening Remarks, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia enlightened the participants on the importance of the studies, in making the connection for the policy consideration. Further, he urged participants to put forward a resolution that could enable ASEAN Member States to work together on economic and gender issues that influence the labour sector.

Mr. Tun Tun Naing, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development of Myanmar, highlighted that the ASEAN inter pillar policy dialogue was a very useful platform to support mutual understanding and coordinated response to address labour and gender dimensions of the AEC, such as issues of productivity and minimum wage, labour migration and competitiveness, as well as skills mismatch. Different stages of social and economic development of ASEAN Member States need to be taken into account as ASEAN forges ahead with its regional economic integration. He emphasised the importance of ASEAN inter pillar dialogue to continue.