Geneva Marks Malaysia’s Appointment as Host of Global Skills Forum 2025
Malaysia set to spearhead global workforce transformation in the prestigious event’s first outing outside Geneva.
By Archyde Staff
June 10, 2025
A New Chapter for Global Skills
news">Geneva, Switzerland – In a significant break from tradition, the Global Skills Forum (GSF) 2025 will be held outside of Geneva for the first time. Malaysia has been chosen as the host nation, marking a pivotal moment for the country’s emerging leadership in workforce transformation and labor market innovation.
The official announcement was made on June 9, 2025, during a high-level event in Geneva co-organized by Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources, The Honourable Steven Sim Chee Keong, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Why Malaysia?
Malaysia’s appointment as the host nation reflects its role as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025 and signals the country’s growing leadership in workforce transformation, labor market reform, and human capital development. The event is also a flagship initiative under the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS), led by the Human Resource Development Corporation.
Global Commitment to Skills Access
Minister Steven Sim emphasized, “GSF 2025 is not just about future skills – it is about fairness. Whether you are a coder in Hanoi, a delivery rider in Jakarta, or a factory worker in Kuala Lumpur, your work deserves respect, your safety deserves protection, and your skills deserve investment.”
To commemorate this milestone, Minister Sim announced the global expansion of e-LATiH, Malaysia’s national online learning platform, which now offers free and borderless access to reskilling and upskilling content for learners worldwide.
As part of the ASEAN Human Capital Development Investment Symposium on 27 May, Malaysia will also open its National Training Week to all ASEAN citizens for the first time, offering over 65,000 free skills development courses.
Strategic Objectives and Key Challenges
The GSF 2025 aims to strengthen regional cooperation on skills mobility, accelerate investment in green and digital skills, and foster stronger public-private partnerships in workforce development. It will also address key workforce challenges, including gig economy integration, expanding social protection, and reshaping occupational safety in the digital age.
The forum will convene over 200 delegates from 16 countries, comprising ministers, experts, industry and union leaders, and global bodies, to tackle these critical issues.
A Beacon of Innovation
The GSF 2025 will see the launch of Malaysia’s National Human Resources Policy 2024–2030 as a model for ASEAN-wide collaboration. This initiative signals a significant shift in how the region approaches skills and workforce development, positioning Malaysia at the forefront of global innovation.
For the first time, GSF 2025 will spotlight private sector leadership, with industry, employers, and training providers driving agile, future-ready skills systems, further cementing Malaysia’s commitment to skills access without borders.
