ASEAN commends Malaysia for initiating ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 programme
ASEAN member states commend Malaysia for initiating the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 (AYOS2025), a programme deemed as strategic effort to equip the ASEAN workforce with future-ready skills.
In a joint communiqué, the bloc acknowledged AYOS2025 for its objective to assist and prepare the people of ASEAN with skills to adapt to changing labour markets and drive sustainable growth in workforce within the region.
The programme is also a platform to exchange best practices and lessons learnt on ASEAN and regional skill standards, training curriculum, skills, assessment and certification.
'This aligned with ASEAN Guiding Principles for Quality Assurance and Recognition of Competency Certification Systems,' ASEAN ministers said in the joint statement.
They also welcomed the ongoing efforts to expand Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven training and upskilling programmes for green jobs.
This includes through the ASEAN Green Jobs Forum that will be held on Aug 27 and 28 this year in Malaysia.
'We have looked through the adoption of the ASEAN Ministerial Statement and Action Plan for Green Jobs Promotion in the Labour Sector.
'We supported the provision of technical assistance on AI training for ASEAN member states,' they said.
The AYOS2025 is organised by the Human Resources Ministry together with its agencies and departments in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to spearhead training and skills initiatives.
The bloc also commended the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) efforts in strengthening data-driven platforms and evidence-based decision making through their Database for Monitoring and Evaluation (ADME) System.
The system, they said, supports strategic planning and the effective implementation of ASCC initiatives.
The ministers acknowledged the ASCC Research and Development (R&D) Platforms Programmes contribution in promoting evidence-based policies and strengthening cross-sectoral decision-making.
'We welcome the launch of the ASCC R&D Platform on the Care Economy which will examine the valuation of care work and the development of sustainable care policies.
'We also welcome the substantive progress made in advancing the ASEAN Creative Economy, including the establishment of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework,' they said.
This Framework, the communiqué said, provides guidance for the development of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cultural and creative industries across the region.
Meanwhile, the bloc emphasised the potential of cultural heritage to promote economic growth, social cohesion, cultural preservation and sustainability, and looked forward to the adoption of the Melaka Declaration on Cultural Heritage Value Creation.
Moreover, the member states acknowledge the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) efforts in their ongoing development of Guidelines for Safe and Responsible Use of Social Media Platforms for ASEAN.
'We acknowledge AMRI's efforts in developing a successor Work Plan for Information and Media (2026-2035), and the ASEAN Communication Master Plan III (ACMP III) (2026-2030) to align with the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future adopted in May 2025.
'We acknowledge their commitment to transform the media's role to strengthen ASEAN's cohesion and mutual understanding, and enhance cooperation in combating fake news and disinformation.
'In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration to Reaffirm AMRI's Commitment to Strategic Progress in Media and Information.'
On the issues related to migrants, the member states reaffirmed their commitment to protect and promote migrant workers' rights throughout the entire migration cycle.
'We recognise the significant impact of the migration and development nexus, on the livelihood and welfare of the present and future generations of the ASEAN Community.
'We acknowledged the need to address migration issues in order to achieve ASEAN goals,' they said.
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