The Philippines and Malaysia have deepened their cooperation on labor priorities during the 22nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM) in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Tuesday that during the bilateral meeting, the two countries explored collaborations in green jobs, platform economy, skills development, and renewable energy.
The Philippines also sought Malaysia’s support for Philippine-led ASEAN agreements on labor and social protection, fair recruitment, workplace safety in the informal sector, and labor inspections in the fishing industry.
Hosting the 2026 ASEAN Green Jobs Forum, the Philippines invited Malaysia to the event, recognizing its initiative to promote knowledge-sharing and discussions on green jobs in the region.
Both countries also exchanged views on workforce transition, including Malaysia’s roadmap development for the energy transition and enacting its law on gig workers.
They also explored opportunities for future cooperation on digital platform work and other emerging labor issues.
DOLE said Malaysia expressed its interest in establishing partnership agreements on recruitment and deployment of domestic workers.
“The bilateral talks reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Philippines and Malaysia and their shared commitment to advancing ASEAN cooperation on labor and employment,” the agency said.
First held in Bali, Indonesia in 1976, the ASEAN Summit is a biannual meeting that brings together Southeast Asian leaders to tackle regional challenges, deepen partnerships, and map out long-term goals for the organization.
Before the 2026 chairship, the Philippines also held the chairship of the regional bloc in 1987, 1999, 2006, and in 2017.
BAP, GMA News
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