As we step into 2025, Southeast Asian countries are making significant strides in updating labour laws to protect workers and address the evolving dynamics of the modern workforce.
From protecting gig economy workers to ensuring fair pay and improving social security, these legislative changes aim to foster more equitable, sustainable working conditions. With a particular focus on minimum wage increases, expanded employee benefits, and better dispute resolution systems, these new policies reflect a growing commitment to creating a more inclusive labour market that balances both employee welfare and employer needs.
Here’s an overview of some of the key labour law developments across Southeast Asia that will shape the workforce in the year ahead:
S’pore’s platform workers act to address the growing gig economy
Starting 1 January, amendments to the Industrial Relations Act have come into force, ensuring protections for gig economy workers, particularly those in the ride-hailing and delivery sectors.
The law aims to manage the relationship between platform operators and workers while introducing mechanisms for dispute resolution through collective bargaining, conciliation, and arbitration. Here’s how the act will work:
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