ASEAN Eyes Stronger Collaboration With World Bank On Job Creation

By Zufazlin Baharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- ASEAN is seeking to strengthen collaboration with the World Bank on job creation policies as the region faces mounting challenges from artificial intelligence (AI) and the rapid rise of gig employment.

Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said globally, the world is facing a job crunch with an increasing number of people turning to gig work.

“In countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, many people are engaged in gig jobs, and societies are now facing a situation where AI is taking away some jobs.

“While industries are not generating enough jobs, we still have a reasonably young population, so ASEAN has to deal with it,” he told Bernama after bilateral meeting with World Bank Group head of delegation and vice president for East Asia Pacific, Dr Carlos Felipe Jaramillo.

Also present at the meeting were World Bank Group country director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Dr Zafer Mustafaoglu and World Bank Group country manager for Malaysia Judith Anne Elizabeth Green.

He noted that the World Bank has shown strong interest in employment issues having published several recent studies on the subject.

Hence, he said ASEAN needs to work closely with the World Bank to leverage its expertise in creating better job opportunities.

“We must create better jobs, better pay, and create a sense of upward social mobility.

“So we have to do everything possible in order to ensure that we grow rich before we grow old in the next 20 years,” he said.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits hosted by Malaysia from Oct 26 to 28 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

-- BERNAMA