ARTICLES

13 Jul 2026

From Exporting Workers to Importing Them: Vietnam’s New Labour Reality

Le Hong Hiep

Vietnam is transitioning from being a source of labour exports to an economy that imports unskilled foreign workers. This is becoming a long-term trend.

20 Jun 2025

Facilitating Gainful Labour Migration in Southeast Asia Remains an Elusive Task

Lee Hwok-Aun

ASEAN has focused on facilitating high-skilled labour mobility, although the vast majority of migrant workers occupy medium- and low-skilled jobs. Disparities in labour standards and uncoordinated migrant labour systems continue to impede the realisation of an integrated regional labour market.

Labour Market Labour Rights Migrant Workers Southeast Asia

26 Mar 2025

ASEAN Can Help to Address Brain Drain in Southeast Asia

Melinda Martinus

Melinda Martinus argues that while individual ASEAN member states are ramping up efforts to reverse brain drain, the region can explore a more coordinated approach to tackle this growing challenge.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Labour Market Regional Cooperation

4 Mar 2025

Myanmar’s Worsening Human Resource Crisis

Htet Hlaing Win

Four years of civil strife and conflict, compounded by forced conscription, have led to Myanmar’s dire human resources crunch.

Labour Market Myanmar Myanmar Economy

18 Sep 2024

Thailand’s Overlooked Growth Story: Labour Reallocation and Domestic Investment

Peter Warr

Thailand’s long-term growth has been significantly fuelled by the movement of labour out of low-productivity agriculture to higher-productivity industry and services, and by growth in domestic investment. These factors deserve more attention.

Labour Market Thai Economy Thailand

4 Mar 2024

Vietnam’s Labour Export: Economic Boon or Developmental Bane?

Nguyen Khac Giang

Labour export yields economic benefits and provides life-changing opportunities for many young Vietnamese. However, Vietnam must craft a long-term strategy that gradually diminishes reliance on labour export, focusing instead on cultivating a competitive domestic labour market.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

27 Jan 2023

Locating Working Class Women in Indonesia’s Halal Economy

Diatyka Widya Permata Yasih|Inaya Rakhmani

Working-class women of the Muslim faith, who are among Indonesia’s most vulnerable and lack access to public healthcare and other services, have something to teach the powers that be about true Islamic governance.

Indonesia Labour Market

22 Nov 2022

Thailand’s Long-Term Resident Visa for Global Talent and Wealthy Residents: Aiming Too High?

Sivarin Lertpusit

Thailand’s latest move to attract global investment and talent might be a step too little, too late, given its slow start off the blocks and its unimpressive record on innovative visa schemes.

Immigration Labour Market Thailand

10 Aug 2022

Time for Vietnam to Apply Minimum Wage to Gig Economy Workers

Joe Buckley

On paper, gig workers appear to be paid more than their salaried worker counterparts in Vietnam. But the former have to work for longer hours and do not have access to the same benefits enjoyed by the latter. As such, the proposed raise in minimum wage should be applied to gig workers too.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

6 Jul 2022

Vietnam’s App-based Driver Protests Surge amidst Rising Petrol Prices

Joe Buckley

Collective strikes by app-based drivers in Vietnam are using strategies previously employed by workers from more traditional sectors. As petrol prices rise, the heat is on the app companies to respond to growing demands for change.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy