In a groundbreaking move, Malaysia has been chosen to host the prestigious Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025, marking a significant departure from its traditional venue in Geneva. This announcement was made on June 9 by Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources, The Honourable Steven Sim Chee Keong, during a high-profile event in Geneva, co-organised with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The main event is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur on October 22–23, 2025.
The selection of Malaysia as the host country underscores its pivotal role as Chair of ASEAN 2025 and highlights its growing leadership in workforce transformation and human capital development. Serving as a flagship initiative under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), the GSF 2025 will be spearheaded by the Human Resource Development Corporation, an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources.
This will be the second edition of the GSF, first hosted by the ILO in Geneva in 2024. Malaysia’s hosting of the forum is a testament to the global confidence in its leadership in skills development and readiness for the future of work.
Global Commitment: Skills Access Without Borders
Minister Steven Sim emphasized the importance of the GSF 2025 as a platform for fairness and inclusivity in the workforce. “GSF 2025 is not just about future skills – it is about fairness,” he remarked. “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.”
In line with this global commitment, Malaysia is expanding e-LATiH, its national online learning platform. The platform now offers free access to reskilling and upskilling content to learners worldwide, breaking down geographical barriers.
Additionally, during the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium on May 27, Malaysia announced the opening of its National Training Week (NTW) from June 14 to 21, 2025, to all ASEAN citizens. This initiative will provide over 65,000 free skills development courses in various formats, focusing on areas such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, green technology, and leadership.
Strategic Objectives and Workforce Challenges
The GSF 2025 will gather over 200 delegates from 16 countries, including ministers, experts, industry and union leaders, and global organisations. The forum aims to achieve several strategic objectives:
– Strengthening regional cooperation on skills mobility and labour certification.
– Accelerating investment in green and digital skills.
– Enhancing public-private partnerships in workforce development through Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) and innovation-driven ecosystems.
– Launching Malaysia’s National Human Resources Policy 2024–2030 as a model for ASEAN-wide collaboration.
A key focus of the forum will be addressing critical workforce challenges:
Gig Economy Integration and Protections
The GSF 2025 will explore the formalisation and protection of gig work, with Malaysia taking the lead through its upcoming Gig Workers Bill, slated for parliamentary debate in the latter half of 2025.
Expanding Social Protection for All Workers
The forum will also delve into inclusive models for income security and universal protection, aiming to address the challenges faced by informal, migrant, and self-employed workers across ASEAN.
Rethinking Occupational Safety
Following Malaysia’s ratification of ILO Convention C155, the GSF 2025 will examine how digitalisation, remote work, and labour fragmentation are reshaping workplace safety and regulations.
Private Sector at the Centre of Skills Innovation
For the first time, the GSF 2025 will highlight private sector leadership, with industry, employers, and training providers playing a central role in driving agile, future-ready skills systems.
The Global Skills Forum 2025 promises to be a pivotal event that will shape the future of work not only in ASEAN but also on a global scale. For more information, visit www.aseanyearofskills.org or contact CommsPR@hrdcorp.gov.my.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malaysia-to-host-first-global-skills-forum-outside-geneva-under-asean-year-of-skills-302476740.html. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.