Thailand to Host 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting

Labour Minister Chulphan Amornvivat announced Thailand's preparations to host the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM) and related meetings scheduled for August 23-28, 2026, at Dusit Thani Bangkok. The conference theme is "ASEAN Human Capital Development: Skills Recognition Towards International Acceptance," aiming to elevate labour standards, promote skills certification, and strengthen regional labour cooperation among the 11 ASEAN member states to benefit over 357 million workers.

Almost all ASEAN members will attend, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) director-general will participate in discussions with ASEAN members. The meeting will also include the ASEAN Plus Three framework, bringing together 10 ASEAN nations and three dialogue partners: China, Japan, and South Korea, with Thailand as this year's host.

Thailand will present a three-pillar skills recognition ecosystem: certification of ASEAN vocational training curricula, ASEAN labour skills standards, and ASEAN centres of excellence. The initiative runs from 2026-2030 and will introduce the "ASEAN Digital Skills Passport" to enhance competitiveness of Thai and regional workers on the international stage.

Chulphan emphasized the need for common labour skills standards accepted across ASEAN member states to create unified development guidelines. As both a labour-sending and labour-receiving country, Thailand recognises the importance of shared standards. The ultimate goal is achieving regional and potentially international recognition to advance ASEAN's labour market in skills development, worker mobility, and competitiveness.

The meeting will also address labour market changes, particularly the impact of artificial intelligence on job structures, work patterns, and competition globally. AI poses new risks, especially for young workers and new market entrants, as automation may transform certain job types while workers lacking market-aligned skills face employment challenges.