PUTRAJAYA, May 27 — Human Resources Minister Steven Sim has called on APEC economies to strengthen cross-border cooperation to protect workers’ rights, asserting that economic progress must never come at the expense of labour welfare.
Speaking at the 7th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM) in Jeju, South Korea, Sim highlighted Malaysia’s firm stance that worker wellbeing is a non-negotiable priority, especially as the country prepares to introduce its first-ever Gig Workers Bill later this year.
Sim also stressed the need for a data-driven approach in policymaking, citing findings from TalentCorp’s recent report on the impact of AI, digitalisation, and the green economy on Malaysia’s workforce.
He warned that automation, not foreign labour, poses the greater threat to local jobs, and called for APEC platforms to formalise knowledge-sharing to help economies develop inclusive, future-proof labour policies.
