KATHMANDU, July 4 -- Malaysia will host the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025, marking the first time the event will be held outside Geneva, Switzerland. The forum, a premier gathering of representatives of governments, employers and workers organizations, experts in the field of skills development, development partners, and UN and international organizations, will take place in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Capital, from October 22-23, 2025.
The announcement was made by Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong at a high-level event co-organized with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
Malaysia's selection as host reflects not only its role as Chair of ASEAN 2025 but also the south-east Asian country’s growing leadership in workforce transformation, labour market reform and human capital development, according to a press release announcing Malaysia’s appointment as host of GSF.
The GSF 2025 will also serve as a flagship initiative under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), led by Human Resource Development Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia
First hosted by the ILO in Geneva in 2024, GSF’s second edition in Malaysia is expected to convene more than 200 delegates from 16 countries, including government ministers, experts, business, industry and union leaders, and global bodies.
Strategic Objectives of GSF 2025
The forum will focus on four strategic areas:
- Bolstering regional cooperation for skills mobility and labour certification
- Increasing investment in green and digital skills
- Enhancing workforce development through public-private partnerships, especially via Sector Skills Bodies
- Introducing Malaysia's National Human Resources Policy 2024–2030 as a model for ASEAN-wide collaboration.
GSF 2025 will also serve as a platform to address workforce transformation challenges affecting the ASEAN region, including:
Gig economy protections: With Malaysia set to table its Gig Workers Bill in the second half of 2025, the forum will explore the formalisation and protection of gig workers across the region.
Universal social protection: Inclusive social security models will be examined, particularly for informal, migrant, and self-employed workers who face limited access to protection.
Occupational safety in the new world of work: GSF will address how workplace safety regulations are evolving, especially in response to trends such as remote work, digital labour platforms, and employment fragmentation. This follows Malaysia’s ratification of ILO Convention C155 on occupational safety and health.
Private sector innovation in skills: For the first time, the forum will place a strong focus on private sector leadership, with employers, industry players, and training providers taking a central role in shaping agile and future-ready skills ecosystems
