Experts call for policy reforms to prepare Global South for future of work
Speakers at a CPD webinar say governments must modernise education, skills and social protection systems to keep pace with technological change.
Economists and labour market experts today (16 July) called for urgent policy reforms and stronger institutional preparedness to help countries in the Global South adapt to a rapidly changing world of work driven by technological advances, digitalisation and economic transformation.
The call came at a webinar titled "Work in Flux: Foresight for the Future of Work in the Global South", organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration with international partners.
Chairing the discussion, CPD Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya said labour markets are undergoing profound changes while policies and institutions are struggling to keep pace.
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He said conventional forecasting methods based on past trends are no longer sufficient to anticipate rapid technological and structural shifts in employment, stressing the need for forward-looking policymaking based on foresight analysis.
Presenting findings from CPD's Bangladesh foresight study, Additional Research Director Towfiqul Islam Khan said the research identified 27 key drivers expected to shape the country's future of work through 2035.
According to the study, the pace of expansion of the global digital economy and changing social aspirations in Bangladesh will be the two biggest uncertainties influencing future labour market outcomes.
It also identified five long-term trends likely to persist across different scenarios: irreversible digitalisation, a shift towards higher-value services, persistent skills mismatches, continued exposure to climate and trade shocks, and the growing importance of agile institutions.
The study recommends reforms in education and skills development, lifelong learning and reskilling, employment-focused industrial policies, stronger labour market information systems, modernised social protection for gig and platform workers, and targeted support for vulnerable groups during labour market transitions.
Speakers at the webinar also called for better alignment between education systems and labour market demand, stronger public-private partnerships for workforce development, and policies to ensure digital transformation creates inclusive and decent jobs.
They said while technological change is inevitable, public policy will determine whether the future of work narrows or widens existing inequalities.
The discussion concluded with a call for governments, employers, researchers and development partners to work together to translate research into practical policies that promote inclusive employment and decent work.
