FutureWORKS Asia

Women’s participation in the workforce is a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth - yet recent trends in Bangladesh point to a worrying reversal. New data shows that the country’s labour force has shrunk for the first time in over a decade, with the vast majority of those exiting being women, erasing years of hard-won progress in female employment. In this op-ed published in The Daily Star, the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (@sanemnet), along with the Institute for Human Development (IHD), a grantee of the @FutureworksAsia initiative, unpacks the deeper structural and social factors driving women out of the workforce — and what this means for the future of work and gender equality in the region. thedailystar.net/opinion/views/… #WomenInWorkforce #FutureOfWork #GenderEquality #LabourForce #SouthAsia #Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s manufacturing sector has long been a key driver of women’s employment — but recent trends reveal a troubling shift. Despite growth in exports and overall employment, women are increasingly being pushed out of urban manufacturing jobs, particularly in the garment sector. Factors such as automation, shifting industry demands, and limited access to diverse skills are reshaping who gets to participate in this growth. Published in The Daily Star, this op-ed by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (@sanemnet), along with the Institute for Human Development IHD — part of the @FutureworksAsia initiative — explores the drivers behind this shift and reflects on its broader implications for inclusive growth and the future of work. Read the full article: thedailystar.net/opinion/views/… #WomenInWork #FutureOfWork #InclusiveGrowth #ManufacturingJobs #BangladeshEconomy #FutureWORKSAsia

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming labour markets worldwide. In the Global South, however, these shifts are unfolding unevenly, shaped by high levels of informality, limited social protection, and persistent skills gaps. Against this backdrop, the 66th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Labour Economics (#ISLE) hosted a panel titled “The Global South at an AI Crossroads: Labour Market Transitions Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America” on 19 January 2026 at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune. In this panel, @helanigalpaya, CEO of LIRNEasia, joined experts from the FutureWORKS Collective to discuss how AI is reshaping labour markets across regions and to explore policy pathways to ensure AI becomes a tool for expanding opportunity rather than deepening inequality. To learn more about the event and key insights from the discussion: lirneasia.net/2026/03/lirnea… @JJNglobal | @symbiosistweets | #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #LabourMarkets #GlobalSouth #DigitalEconomy #AIGovernance #InclusiveGrowth #FutureWORKS #TechForGood #WorkAndSkills #AIandWork #LIRNEasia

As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape the world of work, its impacts in the Global South present urgent and distinct challenges. Unlike advanced economies with more formal labour markets and stronger social protection systems, many countries in the Global South face high levels of informality, limited safety nets, and unequal access to skills and digital infrastructure. @helanigalpaya, CEO of LIRNEasia, contributed to these discussions at the Global South Policy Dialogue, “Securing Labour Justice in the Age of AI,” held on 15 January 2026 in New Delhi as a pre-summit event of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The dialogue was convened by @JJNglobal in collaboration with the FutureWORKS Collective, with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (@IDRC_CRDI). To learn more about the event and key insights from the discussion: lirneasia.net/2026/03/lirnea… #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #LabourJustice #DigitalEconomy #InclusiveGrowth #AIethics #DecentWork #PolicyDialogue #TechForGood

De La Salle University – Social Development Research Center, part of the @FutureworksAsia network, recently convened a multi-stakeholder session as part of its ongoing project—bringing together platform workers, researchers, and sector representatives to exchange insights on working conditions, income security, and everyday challenges in platform work, while exploring pathways to strengthen worker protection and resilience. For more information - facebook.com/SDRCDLSU/posts… @DLSUManila | #FutureWORKSAsia #PlatformWork #GigWorkers #DigitalLabor #WorkersRights #SocialProtection #DecentWork #LabourRights #WorkforceDevelopment #DigitalEconomy #WorkerProtection

Women in Divulapitiya shared powerful insights on the unseen and unpaid burden of care - from managing household responsibilities to the mental load that often goes unrecognized. Through participatory workshops conducted as part of the @FutureworksAsia project, CEPA is bringing forward these lived experiences to inform the development of a Care Economy Roadmap for Sri Lanka. Recognizing and redistributing care work is essential for building stronger and more equitable communities. Read more about the stories and insights shared by women in Divulapitiya: instagram.com/p/DVcxdrsgR_B/… #CareEconomy #UnpaidCareWork #WomenVoices #GenderEquality #FutureOfWork #FutureWORKSAsia #SocialJustice #InclusiveEconomy

Platform work is not one story—it’s many. Resilient Platform Work Philippines, led by @DLSUManila – Social Development Research Center in partnership with @MObservatory, convened a dialogue on #PlatformWork, #ClimateChange, and #AIandWork in the #Philippines. Workers, organizers, and scholars discussed #SocialProtection gaps, #Climate and #AI risks, #CollectiveOrganizing, and the diversity of #GigEconomy and #DigitalLabour experiences. Grounded worker voices are essential to shaping better #FutureOfWork research and #WorkersRights policy. Learn more: web.facebook.com/SDRCDLSU/posts…

@LIRNEasia @IDRCinAsia @SWANA_FoWHub @Ali_Abboud87 @IDRC_CRDI @JJNglobal

How do we measure AI’s exposure in the labour market ? At a recent @FutureworksAsia knowledge sharing session, researchers unpacked the methods behind AI exposure estimates and why Global South contexts need tailored approaches. Read the full article tinyurl.com/3br27jwv

Care is love — but it is also labour. As part of the @FutureworksAsia project, CEPA has been conducting participatory workshops in Gampaha, Jaffna, and Kandy These conversations are shaping a Care Economy Roadmap for Sri Lanka — because justice begins at home. tinyurl.com/59khxep8

@CPR_India @cesd_azerbaijan @CIPPEC @LabsMacro @pidsgovph @DLSUManila @womeninGH @cepa @cpdbd1993 @sanemnet @womenandmedia @NepalNdri @GoodBusinessLab @CSFasia

@LIRNEasia @JJNglobal @gayanihurulle @helanigalpaya @sosurie @TowardsFairWork @WIEGOGLOBAL @ADB_HQ @ilo @UNESCAP @unwomenasia @JustEconLabor @kenanfoundation @Better_Work @ERIAorg @SMERUInstitute @NUSingapore @HomeNet_Sasia @HydUniv @WRIIndia @erasmusuni

Only 2 days to go! The deadline for our Call for Proposals is fast approaching. Access the full Call for Proposals and the online application form here: tinyurl.com/2uwjn985 This Call is supported with funding from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

@CPR_India @cesd_azerbaijan @CIPPEC @LabsMacro @pidsgovph @DLSUManila @womeninGH @cepa @cpdbd1993 @sanemnet @womenandmedia @NepalNdri @GoodBusinessLab @CSFasia

@LIRNEasia @JJNglobal @gayanihurulle @helanigalpaya @sosurie @TowardsFairWork @WIEGOGLOBAL @ADB_HQ @ilo @UNESCAP @unwomenasia @JustEconLabor @kenanfoundation @Better_Work @ERIAorg @SMERUInstitute @NUSingapore @HomeNet_Sasia @HydUniv @WRIIndia @erasmusuni

Just 8 days left to apply! Don’t miss the opportunity to submit a proposal for our commissioned case studies on social protection for platform workers in Asia Access the full Call for Proposals and the online application form here tinyurl.com/2uwjn985

@CPR_India @cesd_azerbaijan @CIPPEC @LabsMacro @pidsgovph @DLSUManila @womeninGH @cepa @cpdbd1993 @sanemnet @womenandmedia @NepalNdri @GoodBusinessLab @CSFasia

@LIRNEasia @JJNglobal @gayanihurulle @helanigalpaya @sosurie @TowardsFairWork @WIEGOGLOBAL @ADB_HQ @ilo @UNESCAP @unwomenasia @JustEconLabor @kenanfoundation @Better_Work @ERIAorg @SMERUInstitute @NUSingapore @HomeNet_SAsia @HydUniv @WRIIndia @erasmusuni

We invite individual researchers to submit country-based case studies on how social protection for platform workers is being designed & implemented across Asia, with a focus on stakeholder experiences and real-world challenges. For full CFP tinyurl.com/2uwjn985 @IDRCinAsia

@LIRNEasia @IDRCinAsia @IDRC_CRDI

Platform work in India isn’t just about Uber-style ride-hailing. A key insight from Dr. Adithi Surie's recent session shows how different platform models control workers’ time, income, & risk in very different ways - Read the full article here: tinyurl.com/yc57phxx @sosurie