Manila – Institute for Labor Studies (ILS) Executive Director Ahmma Charisma Lobrin-Satumba represented Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III in the High-Level Ministerial Conference on Human Resources Development (HRD) on the Changing World of Work held online last September 15.

Hosted by Vietnam as current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2020, the event engaged the participants in partnership sessions, which facilitated information sharing by both ASEAN Dialogue Partners, as well as international organizations. The sessions highlighted the respective priorities of cooperation with ASEAN. Particularly, participants looked into human resources development and areas of interest for future cooperation on the created roadmap to implement the ASEAN Declaration on HRD on the Changing World of Work. The sessions included an exchange of views with stakeholders.

Signed by the ASEAN members on June 26, 2020 during the 36th ASEAN Summit via video conference, the said Declaration reiterates, among others, the commitments made in the ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on the Future of Work: Embracing Technology for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth adopted in April 2018; ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Joint Statement on Green Initiative to the 108th International Labour Conference adopted in June 2019; ASEAN Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth of the ASEAN Community adopted at the 33rd ASEAN Summit; Vientiane Declaration on Transition from Informal Employment to Formal Employment towards Decent Work Promotion in ASEAN adopted at the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits; Bangkok Declaration on Advancing Partnership in Education for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in ASEAN adopted at the 35th ASEAN Summit; ASEAN Declaration on Industrial Transformation to Industry 4.0 adopted by the 35th ASEAN Summit; and the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education adopted at the 27th ASEAN Summit.