Case Study
The future of work in ASEAN: A matter of sustainability
ASEAN was initiated and formed on August 8th, 1967, a decade lesson learned from EEC which was formed by the 6 countries in 1958. However, in the case of the ASEAN community, it should not be foot-steeping to the EU. Since their landscape and demography are tremendously different: from no technology(mountainous/hill tribes) to high technology(Singaporean). The high percentage of the population classified as no technology to low technology is mainly in CLMV which joined the ASEAN in the late 1990s, while the medium to high technology consumers are in the ASEAN founding member states and Brunei Darussalam. These affect various kinds of jobs, skills, performances, productions and living styles/culture, and sustainability. Since some groups of people are among the top of the world(3rd to 4th wave) while the others are far left behind(1st wave). It is interesting the question of “What and how the sustainable work would be fit to the ASEAN members?” This issue is a black box or paradox of the “One vision, one identity, one community”. However, some studies revealed that the CLMV are focal points of the FDI’s industrial landmark due to new low-cost production sites, cheap labor, special economic zones, and benefit from AFTA to a huge market of US$2.6 trillion and over 622 million people. Our study revealed that a lot of FDIs, especially those advanced technology industries, do not employ the local cheap labor but substitute by installing robots or automatic machines or importing skilled labor from their own countries or from neighboring countries. In developed regions, computer skills and information technology skills are increasingly demanded in the labor market while the technical skills for natural products or handmade value-added development are highly demanded in rural areas. Otherwise, those agriculturists could not survive due to climate change.
Published by: Phasina Tangchuang, Chatchai Sirikulpan, Phramaha Sakun Thiangchai, Chalee Pakdee
Author: Phasina Tangchuang
Paper ID: V8I3-1171
Paper Status: published
Published: May 25, 2022
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