Future of Work

The FES Regional Comptence Center on the Future of Work in Asia-Pacific (Future of Work project) is a platform for unionists, workers, labor leaders, and labor institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to come together and strategize collectively on issues that affect workers and their rights.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is rapidly sweeping the region, leaving workers with fewer alternatives to keep their jobs and also in being treated fairly. The gig economy along with the intricacies of supply chains, offers precarious employment, obscures traditional work patterns which makes it harder for unions to organize. Climate change is also making work challenging, with extreme weather conditions like heat waves creating more stressful working conditions that are not taken into account in workplace policies. Along with all these issues, gender justice is an overarching concern as workers face numerous obstacles in ensuring that women in productive work have same rights and economic value as their male counterparts.

These present challenges require more workers-led interventions such as meaningful workers’ dialogue with employers, gender sensitization among trade unions, an appreciation of just transition principles and how they can be incorporated into collective bargaining agreements, and pushing for national and regional policy frameworks that give equal consideration to workers' rights to decent work, organize, and collectively bargain. The FES Regional Comptence Center on the Future of Work in Asia-Pacific hopes to provide appropriate tools and strategies for workers to create these interventions brought together by workers themselves.


Ever wondered how unions can build more power to improve the lives of workers? Explore real-life case studies from across Asia show how workers are winning battles for better wages, safer working conditions, and fair treatment. From garment workers in Mongolia fighting for dignity to tech workers in India pushing back against unfair practices, these stories highlight how the Power Resource Approach is making a difference. 

Learn how we can use these strategies to strengthen your own unions and create lasting change in this page.


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Who cleans our city? Do you spot them among the beautiful city landscape and lush green scenery? Do you know that the cleanliness of the city is their biggest achievement? However, many of sanitary workers' achievements in Islamabad, Pakistan often go unsung until after one has left the job. Read the documentary synopsis here.


Contact

Marie Schröter

Director, FES Philippines

E-mail

Informalization of Work

Informalization of Work

Learn how to build bridges and combine the power resources of workers in both the informal and formal economies in this toolkit. More

AI & Digitalization

AI & Digitalization

News on current debates and insightful research to shape a digital future that prioritises fairness for workers, quality jobs, and strong social protections. More

Just Transition

Just Transition

Explore international accomplishments in implementing the concept of Just Transition among Asian countries in this editorial. Not limited to the positive side, it also looks at the shortcomings of recent efforts and problematic schemes for implementing low carbon technologies. More

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)

Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD)

Learn about corporate obligations with regard to Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in this publication. More

News

12.04.2023 | Future of Work, Trade, labour and social dialogue | News
Hot masala milk tea is being poured from the pot to tea filter

Nepali tea has great international market potential as colleagues of FES Nepal learned during a recent visit to Jhapa (Eastern Nepal). However,…


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07.02.2023 | Future of Work, Economy of tomorrow | News

In the era of automation and digitization, qualification and training requirements for workers are undergoing drastic changes. Candidates, especially…


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21.12.2022 | Future of Work | News
A woman at a construction site. She is holding a shovel, wearing glasses, gloves and a hat.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nepal and the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) Nepal conduct first-ever power resource assessment of…


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27.09.2022 | Future of Work | News
A group of workers at a bridge construction site

Trade union membership in Pakistan is no higher than at independence in 1947, causing the country and its citizens to miss out on the potential…


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| News

Facts, figures and the latest annual report of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.


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Publications

Astha Kapoor | Future of Work | Publication

With a spot-on description of the problems workers in the digital economy face today Astha Kapoor develops models that allow workers to develop…


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Syed Marwan, Ikmal Nordin and Ng Ming Yang | Publication

An analysis of the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and reform of social protection in Malaysia.


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Ardhitya E. Y. Lalisang and Darang S. Candra | Publication

Indonesia’s Global Maritime Fulcrum and China’s Belt Road Initiative at first glance seem to be like a perfect match. But bilateral relations have…


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Sergio Grassi | Publication

China’s geopolitics and geoeconomics are challenged by democratic transformation. An analysis of the BRI in Malaysia.


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29.01.2016

»Wer bin ich – und wenn ja, wie viele?« Frei nach dem Bestseller von Richard David Precht neigt jeder Mensch zur Vernetzung. Und die erfolgt im…


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