Thai PM calls for skills certification recognized across borders at ASEAN meeting
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for ASEAN member states to establish internationally recognized skills certification systems. The initiative aims to improve labor mobility and regional competitiveness amidst shifts in technology and aging populations.
Why it matters
Standardizing labor qualifications across Southeast Asia could significantly boost regional economic integration and address workforce gaps in the digital and green economies.
BANGKOK – Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul opened the 29th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting on Wednesday, urging member states to build credible, internationally recognized skills certification systems to boost employment, labor mobility, and regional competitiveness.
In his address, Anutin said ASEAN's nearly 700 million people and workforce of over 357 million represent vast human capital potential, but the bloc still faces gaps in education, technology access, and social protection.
He noted that artificial intelligence, the green transition, and aging societies are reshaping labor markets and driving demand for digital, green, and care-economy skills.
Qualifications and skills earned in one ASEAN member state should facilitate employment opportunities in other countries, both within and beyond the region, while supporting lifelong learning, labor mobility, and access to decent, better-paying work, he said.
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