Stronger implementation of fundamental labour rights could help ASEAN economies respond to rapidly evolving trade and supply-chain requirements while supporting sustainable competitiveness. The Governments, workers' and employers' organizations from across ASEAN have highlighted the growing importance of labour rights to trade, investment and sustainable competitiveness, as evolving requirements in markets create new opportunities and challenges for South-East Asian economies.
Hosted by the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia and endorsed by the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting (SLOM), the regional seminar was held in Bali, Indonesia, on 9-10 September 2026. ASEAN's tripartite constituents discussed how labour provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs), responsible business conduct, supply-chain due diligence and environmental, social and governance requirements are increasingly shaping trade and labour policy across the region.
Discussions highlighted the practical implications for ASEAN's export-oriented sectors, including the growing pressure on businesses to meet evolving trade requirements. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, may face particular constraints in adapting to changing regulatory and supply-chain requirements.
"Indonesia is proud to have hosted this important regional dialogue, bringing governments, workers and employers together to consider how trade, decent work and sustainable economic development can advance together," said Cris Kuntadi, Secretary-General, Ministry of Manpower, Republic of Indonesia.
Participants explored the challenge of translating commitments on fundamental rights at work into effective practice. Discussions addressed legal, institutional and enforcement gaps, worker voice and social dialogue, and the need for coordination between government institutions responsible for labour, trade and commerce.
A key contribution to the discussions was the launch of the ASEAN Regional Study on Implications of Inclusion of Labour Provisions in Free Trade Agreements. Developed under the auspices of SLOM and coordinated by the ASEAN Secretariat with the support of the Government of Australia, the study maps how labour provisions are structured in FTAs, the cooperation mechanisms they establish, and their potential implications for governments, employers and workers across the region.
Alongside the ASEAN study, the ILO presented its forthcoming regional Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Gap Assessment, which will examine challenges to effective implementation of fundamental rights at work, including legal, institutional, enforcement and social-dialogue dimensions. The assessment will help build the evidence base for identifying implementation challenges, including those affecting export-oriented sectors, and inform future dialogue on possible areas for regional cooperation.
"Trade and labour rights should not be seen as competing priorities - they must go hand in hand. Effective implementation of labour standards is increasingly becoming a fundamental feature of responsible and sustainable participation in global supply chains, while robust social dialogue ensures governments, businesses and workers all have a voice in navigating change," said Simrin Singh, Director, ILO Country Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
Participants also considered existing ASEAN initiatives addressing child labour, labour inspection and occupational safety and health, and discussed how these efforts relate to trade-exposed sectors and supply chains.
The dialogue will contribute to ongoing exchanges among ASEAN's labour bodies, workers' and employers' organizations on practical ways to strengthen the link between decent work and sustainable competitiveness across the region.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) supported the regional dialogue through its "Trade, Labour and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in South-East Asia" project funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
