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The event will bring together global and regional leaders in Kuala Lumpur this October to explore skills development, workforce transformation, and social protections across ASEAN.
Malaysia will host the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025, marking the first time the event will be held outside Geneva. The announcement was made on 9 June 2025 by Steven Sim Chee Keong, Malaysia's Minister of Human Resources, at a high-level event co-organised with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
According to a press release by the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp), published on PR Newswire, the forum will take place in Kuala Lumpur from 22 to 23 October 2025.
Malaysia’s appointment as host reflects both its role as Chair of ASEAN 2025 and its increasing influence in labour market reform, human capital development, and skills transformation. The forum will also be a flagship platform under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), led by HRD Corp, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources.
Following its inaugural edition in Geneva in 2024, the decision to bring GSF to Kuala Lumpur is seen as a vote of confidence in Malaysia’s direction on workforce readiness and skills leadership.
“Whether you are a coder in Hanoi, a delivery rider in Jakarta, or a factory worker in Kuala Lumpur, your work deserves respect, your safety deserves protection, and your skills deserve investment,” said Minister Sim.
Expanding access to skills learning across borders
Alongside the forum announcement, two initiatives were introduced to boost global access to upskilling.
Malaysia’s national learning platform, e-LATiH, has been expanded to allow users from anywhere in the world to access its free reskilling and upskilling content.
Further, National Training Week (NTW), scheduled for 14 to 21 June 2025, will for the first time be open to all ASEAN citizens. Over 65,000 courses will be offered in both online and physical formats, covering areas such as artificial intelligence, green technology, digitalisation, and leadership.
Minister Sim had earlier announced this expansion at the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium on 27 May 2025, encouraging participation across the region.
What’s on the agenda for GSF 2025?
More than 200 delegates from 16 countries are expected at GSF 2025, including government ministers, labour experts, business leaders, unions, and international bodies. The forum will centre on four strategic areas:
- Enhancing regional cooperation for skills mobility and labour certification
- Boosting investment in green and digital competencies
- Strengthening workforce development through public-private partnerships, especially via Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs)
- Unveiling Malaysia’s National Human Resources Policy 2024–2030, intended as a model for regional collaboration
Addressing workforce transformation challenges
The forum will also delve into several pressing workforce issues affecting the ASEAN region.
- Gig economy protections: With Malaysia set to table its Gig Workers Bill in the second half of 2025, the forum will explore the formalisation and protection of gig workers across the region.
- Universal social protection: Inclusive social security models will be examined, particularly for informal, migrant, and self-employed workers who face limited access to protection.
- Occupational safety in the new world of work: GSF will address how workplace safety regulations are evolving, especially in response to trends such as remote work, digital labour platforms, and employment fragmentation. This follows Malaysia’s ratification of ILO Convention C155 on occupational safety and health.
- Private sector innovation in skills
For the first time, the forum will place a strong focus on private sector leadership, with employers, industry players, and training providers taking a central role in shaping agile and future-ready skills ecosystems.
Shaping future-focused partnerships
According to HRD Corp’s update, the Geneva launch event drew more than 100 global changemakers. Among them was Srinivas B. Reddy, Chief of the Skills and Employability Branch of the ILO, who stressed the need for inclusive, forward-looking skills strategies to support sustainable growth.
Described as a platform to bridge skills gaps, empower youth, and promote lifelong learning, while strengthening regional and global collaboration. As labour markets evolve with technology, climate change, and job redesign, the forum offers a timely opportunity for collective action highlighting Malaysia’s commitment to a future of work that is global, green, and human-centric.
Lead image / HRD Corp Facebook
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