October 11, 2025
8
minutes
by
The LouvreBlanc Consulting
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia — The 2025 ASEAN Green Jobs Forum was held from August 27-28 at the Hotel Le Meridien, Putrajaya City, as part of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship. The event, hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) with support from the ASEAN Secretariat and the Government of Australia through the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative, gathered labour officials, policymakers, industry leaders, educators, and social partners to examine a pressing theme: “AI, Digitalisation and Green Jobs: Future-Proofing Skills and Talents for ASEAN.”
Among the panelists was Reina Pelayo-Lino, Social Impact Lead of OneFLOW Strategic Consulting and Advisory, who participated in the AI-Powered Workforce Training for a Green Economy session on Day 2, August 28. There, she championed the perspectives of the Filipino workforce in international discussions.
Over the past decade, the ASEAN region has seen rapid growth in investments, GDP, and the expansion of its middle class. Alongside this progress came the rise of technology across most member states. In 2017, ASEAN released its publication "Managing Technology's Implications", highlighting digital transformation's double-edged nature. While it offers vast opportunities for the future of work, it also carries the risk of widening inequalities if left unmanaged. This concern has become even more pressing with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI).
Artificial intelligence and digitalisation are adding new layers to these realities. On one hand, they create risks: many routine or manual jobs may be replaced, and those with fewer resources may struggle to keep up. On the other hand, these technologies also offer opportunities; if integrated well, they can provide access to new forms of employment, upskilling, and entrepreneurship.
Community-driven initiatives, particularly through small businesses and social enterprises, have shown that with the proper support, AI can help bridge these divides. For example, AI-based tools can help informal workers connect to formal platforms, assist women entrepreneurs in expanding their reach, or provide indigenous groups with new ways to market traditional products. What matters is ensuring access and building support systems so that technology serves people, not vice versa.
At the forum, OneFLOW’s contribution was presented through the lens of workforce inclusion. The organization’s mission is to help businesses strengthen workforce systems while giving employees the tools and support needed to navigate change.
In the ASEAN context, this mission translates into very practical needs:
First, it supports businesses, mainly traditional or family-run ones, in preparing their workforce for digitalisation and AI integration.
Second, providing guidance and programs beyond short-term training, addressing the personal impact of redundancy, displacement, or career change.
Lastly, it helps companies see workforce development not as an additional unnecessary expense but as an investment in long-term resilience.
Reina Pelayo-Lino drew on over 20 years of experience as a career consultant across corporate, nonprofit, government, and higher education sectors. There, she coached employees daily through job searches, interviews, salary negotiations, and the emotional challenges of career change. Her reflections underline a critical point: losing a job is not just a professional setback; it can be a profoundly personal upheaval.
OneFLOW brings this perspective into the ASEAN setting by encouraging companies to adopt systems that soften these transitions. For example, businesses that face redundancy due to automation or restructuring can still provide coaching, upskilling, or pathways into entrepreneurship. This approach preserves employee dignity and creates lasting value for companies by maintaining trust and goodwill, even after employment ends.
Leadership in today’s context cannot be measured solely by profit margins or quarterly performance. Authentic leadership is about responsibility, preparing workers for change rather than leaving them to face it alone.
Inclusive innovation, as she described, requires alignment between regional goals and national realities. ASEAN may promote digital and green transitions on paper, but if these policies are not translated into practical programs at the local level, they risk becoming empty statements. For instance, a policy on “green skills” must be adapted into real training for informal workers, youth, and women in specific communities. Without this alignment, the gap between high-level ambition and everyday realities only grows wider.
OneFLOW positions itself at this intersection to help translate broad policy directions into approaches businesses and communities can use. This includes ensuring that workers’ voices are heard and that strategies are co-created with those most affected.
The ASEAN Green Jobs Forum highlighted a shared reality: technology is reshaping the world of work faster than ever, and unless deliberate steps are taken, many will be left behind. Large groups, including informal workers, women, and indigenous populations, are at risk. However, as the discussions showed, the region also has opportunities to make sure that no one is excluded from this transition.
OneFLOW’s role, as represented by Reina Pelayo-Lino, is to bridge the space between policy ambitions and local implementation. Through drawing lessons from multinational practices, such as career transition programs, and adapting them to ASEAN’s unique context, OneFLOW shows how both businesses and workers can benefit from managing change thoughtfully.
The path forward depends on inclusivity and accountability. Community-based initiatives and AI-driven tools can expand opportunities if paired with real support systems. Policies must be designed with workers in mind, not just industries. Leaders, whether in government, business, or civil society, must treat workforce development as a shared responsibility.
As ASEAN moves deeper into the age of AI and digitalisation, the challenge is clear: ensure that no community is left behind in the future of work.
