Page 19 - AEI Insights 2020 - Vol. 6, Issue 1

Furuoka et al, 2020

employed in any firm. The tax deduction system is also introduced to promote the quota system
(Sumitomo Foundation, 2019).

Conclusion
The promotion and protection of human rights is a fundamental principle of the ASEAN
Community. In order to realise this crucial principle, all ASEAN member states have made
efforts to promote human rights and freedom of all ASEAN citizens, including the
disadvantaged workers. The findings from current study could be summarized into two main
facts. Firstly, the unemployment rates in five ASEAN countries, namely, Cambodia, Lao,
Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, are relatively low. By contrast, two ASEAN countries, such
as Brunei and Indonesia, still suffer from high unemployment. Under these labour market
situations, disadvantaged workers in these countries may face a serious problem of
unemployment. Secondly, ASEAN has made serious commitment for the promotion of
employment among disadvantaged workers, for example, the ASEAN commission on
promotion and protector of the rights of women and children was set up in 2010. In order to
promote a concept of “productive ageing”, ASEAN also adopted the ASEAN strategic
framework on social welfare and development in 2015. For the promotion of employment for
persons with disabilities, ASEAN leaders declared the ASEAN decade of people with
disabilities 2011-2012 in Bali Indonesia. Thirdly, individual ASEAN countries also made
serious efforts to promote employment of disadvantaged workers. For example, the Philippines
enacted an act for self-development and self-reliance of person with disabilities and all kind of
discrimination against persons with disabilities are prohibited under this act. Thailand
introduced a quota system for workers with disabilities under the Rehabilitation of Persons
with Disabilities Act in 1991.

There are two recommendation for policymakers in ASEAN countries. Firstly, some ASEAN
countries still suffer from high unemployment problem. The policymakers in ASEAN countries
may make concerted efforts to promote employment and reduce unemployment in ASEAN,
especially among disadvantaged workers. Secondly, only two ASEAN countries introduced a
quota system to promote employment for persons with disabilities. The policymakers in
ASEAN countries may consider introducing a systematic and uniform quota system in
ASEAN. As this paper focuses on three groups of disadvantaged workers, namely female
workers, elderly workers and workers with disabilities future study may consider other groups
of disadvantaged workers, such as minority workers or foreign workers. The findings from
these studies may offer great insights on employment for all in ASEAN.

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