Dear Dean and fellow students,

The question is How can one achieve work-life balance or work life integration, my thought is that since the goals of ASEAN is to connect the countries that are separated by geographical boundaries, to unite these striving nations and to be of help to one another, as set out in 2007’s ASEAN Economic Blueprint, the AEC seeks to “transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital.” For me, the labor sector plays a vital role in the ASEAN integration. Take for example, In 2017 Global Innovation Index ranked Singapore as the most innovative country in Asia, while the 2017 Bloomberg Innovation Index ranked Singapore sixth globally – those are compelling reasons why companies like Amazon and IBM are using Singapore to pilot groundbreaking new projects before they roll them out globally. With these latest achievements of Singapore, they would be in need of additional IT experts and researchers which are also available in the Philippines. Aside from a surplus of great IT professionals, the Philippines also has a steady supply of engineers, nurses, and doctors that can contribute to Singapore and other ASEAN member -- the same positive contribution our teachers are having in Thailand. These professionals are achieving and can achieve work-life balance due to the relative proximity of the Asean countries and the relative ease with which they can enter and exit ASEAN member countries and the technologies available to make life outside one’s country more manageable.

References :

https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/2016/05/13/asean-labor-mobility.html

https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/news-and-events/insights/innovation/singapore-flexes-its-standing-as-asias-technology-capital.html