Future of Work: APAC

Managing a decent future of work together in Asia-Pacific

The EU and ILO are working with nine countries across Asia and the Pacific to navigate the megatrends reshaping work, ranging from AI to ageing populations to climate change, and more.

Project details

Duration

15 January 2025 - 15 January 2029

Development partner(s)

European Union (EU)

Reference

RAS/24/06/EUR

Additional details

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1.3 billion

workers in Asia and the Pacific are in informal employment, around two thirds of all workers in the region.

Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2024

27 years

to adapt to the demographic shift that took developed economies 60. Asia and the Pacific is the world's fastest-ageing region.

Asia-Pacific Employment and Social Outlook 2024

Nearly 3 in 4

member companies across the project's nine partner countries are exploring or beginning to adopt AI, while only 13% have widespread use.

AI Adoption Among Employer and Business Member Organizations in Asia and the Pacific, 2026

Background

Megatrends such as AI, new ways of working, demographic shifts, climate change and changing trade patterns are transforming how and where people work across Asia and the Pacific.

The Managing a decent future of work together: Asia-Pacific ("Future of Work: APAC"), funded by the EU, brings together the ILO and partners in nine countries over four years (2025-2029) to build shared evidence on these megatrends, exchange policy approaches and strengthen the implementation of international labour standards.

Through joint research, policy dialogues, and practical trainings, the project connects countries facing similar challenges but often addressing them in isolation. Project aims to bring key stakeholders together to understand the megatrends, mitigate risks, seize the opportunities, and ultimately shape a decent future of work for all in Asia-Pacific.

Key areas of work and project objectives

Through joint research, knowledge mobilization, policy dialogues and practical tools and training, the main objectives of the project are to:

Strengthen mutual learning on opportunities and challenges arising from megatrends; and
Support the effective implementation of globally agreed (ILO) standards related to these megatrends by identifying and addressing regulatory gaps and promoting coordinated action between national public institutions, social partners.

Countries covered

Implementation of the EU-ILO Future of Work: APAC will take place in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand, with possible work in Brunei Darussalam.