Digital platform workers’ rights tackled at ASEAN forum

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February 5, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is leading a regional push to improve working conditions for platform economy workers.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday opened a three-day forum in Cebu, bringing together labor officials from ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The forum follows the National Tripartite Conference, wherein local labor councils adopted a resolution aimed at enhancing safeguards for platform workers or those engaged in gig and digital works.

Panel discussions will focus on issues such as employment classification, working conditions, skills development, labor governance and access to social protection.

The discussions aim to explore practical solutions while allowing ASEAN member-states to exchange ideas without imposing a regulatory model.