Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming labour markets worldwide. In the Global South, however, these changes are unfolding unevenly, shaped by labour markets defined by high levels of informality, uneven social protection, and large 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 Monday, 19 January 2026, at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, Pune.
The rapid technological advancement and Artificial intelligence (AI) have become synonymous with conversations about the future of work. Headlines often focus on which jobs are at risk and how quickly technology will replace workers. But the reality is far more complex. On 11 June 2026, researchers and practitioners from across Asia gathered at the Pullman King Power in Bangkok for a knowledge sharing session hosted by LIRNEasia and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Economic and Social Analysis Unit (RESA), to explore how AI, digital transformation and platform work are reshaping labourmarkets – and what this means for workers, businesses and governments. Drawing on emerging research from across the region, the discussions made one thing clear: technology is only one part of a much bigger story. 
Rising oil prices and ongoing geopolitical crises continue to place significant pressure on platform workers in the Philippines, particularly ride-hailing and delivery workers who often face rising fuel costs, unstable earnings, and limited social protections. This opinion piece examines how these challenges expose deeper structural vulnerabilities within the platform economy and underscore the need for stronger protections for platform workers. 
Women’s participation in the workforce is a cornerstone of inclusive economic growth yet recent trends in Bangladesh point to a worrying reversal. This op-ed 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. 
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. This op-ed explores the drivers behind this shift and reflects on its broader implications for inclusive growth and the future of work. 
Garment workers in Bangalore are navigating an industry increasingly shaped by technological change, shifting production demands, and growing uncertainty. This piece explores how these changes are impacting workers’ everyday experiences, particularly through a gendered lens, offering insights into the realities of labour and the future of work in South Asia. 
Gig work is creating new opportunities for flexible employment in Sri Lanka, but workers continue to face challenges around income security, access to protections, bargaining power, and long-term sustainability. This article explores six key realities shaping Sri Lanka’s gig economy and highlights the need for policies and practices that ensure a fairer future for platform workers. 
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to transform the world of work, its impacts in the Global South present urgent and unique challenges. Unlike advanced economies with formal labour markets and stronger safety nets, many countries in the Global South face high levels of informality, limited social protection, and unequal access to skills and digital infrastructure. These issues were explored at “Securing Labour Justice in the Age of AI: A Global South Policy Dialogue,” a pre-summit event held on 15 January 2026 in New Delhi as part of the lead-up to the India AI Impact Summit 2026. 
By Thisuri Rojie Ekanayake Worldwide, shocking news headlines about the impact of Artificial Intelligence or AI on jobs have been a plenty lately. Often, these articles attest that a large share of work is expected to be affected by AI, sparking concern of automation and mass layoffs at unprecedented rates. A closer investigation of the research behind the headlines reveals a much more complex scenario. From the specific definitions of AI adopted to the use of labour market data across vastly different regions, these studies leave something to be desired in their applicability to the Global South. A recent FutureWORKS Asia knowledge-sharing session inquired into on these pertinent questions. 
As digital labour platforms continue to expand across Asia, debates on the future of work often circle back to a familiar reference point: ride-hailing apps such as Uber. But focusing on one dominant model can obscure more than it reveals—particularly in countries like India, where platform work has taken on diverse forms across sectors such as home-based services, education, logistics, agriculture, and healthcare. This was the central argument of a recent FutureWORKS Asia knowledge-sharing session by Dr. Aditi Surie of the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, which examined how different types of labour platforms govern workers’ time, income, and behaviour. Rather than asking whether platform workers are “employees” or “independent contractors,” the session invited participants to look more closely at how platforms exercise control—and how that control shapes workers’ everyday experiences.