The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is calling for proposals on “Post-Corona Visions for the Future of Work in Asia” from researchers, policy practitioners, and experts from across Asia to contribute to the analysis of post-COVID-19 working conditions and to share their insights and put the spotlight on the multi-faceted dimensions of Asia’s future and the visions for the post-COVID-19 world. The application is now open! So, become part of FES research and policy network and help it rethink the future of work in Asia during and after COVID-19.

Background

The global pandemic is affecting lives across Asia, and it will alter the social and economic circumstances for the upcoming decade. To analyze the social, economic, political, geostrategic, cultural, and societal repercussions of this unprecedented crisis and developing visions for the post-COVID-19 era, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is inviting scholars to submit papers from across Asia.

The transformation of supply chains, digitalization throughout countries, the future of trade unions and workers as well as the consequences of a ceaselessly continuing automation will change the future of Asia. Moreover, Long-run and systematic analysis of visions for the future of work and the economy of tomorrow remains the main focus topic of the FES’s work.

Details of FES Call for proposal

Application deadline: 6 July 2020 (23:59 PM)

Organizing institution: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

FES conference date: October 2020

What FES offers through this call

• Appropriate remuneration and access to FES networks of experts;
• The opportunity for authors to deliver their papers at a digital conference in October 2020 and to build networks with FES partners;
• Professional editorial consultation and copy-editing; and
• Publication, distribution, and promotion of the finalized paper via FES in Asia.

Who are eligible?

• Scholars or researchers
• Policy experts
• Practitioners from Asia

Focus topics

• Supply Chains
• Platform Economy
• Workers And Data Protection
• Automation
• Just Transition

Therefore, FES is inviting papers focusing on the below-mentioned five research areas:

1) Supply chains

The corona crisis has altered the structure of the global economy. With many supply chains being disrupted or are due to be restructured, global demand has fallen by far, a wave of factory foreclosures is occurring and vulnerable workers are undergoing the brunt of this economic emergency. So, address the following pressing questions induced by the reassessment of current supply chains: How can supply chains in Asia become more resistant and socially fair? How can workers produce power in transnational corporations and global value chains and foster cross-sectoral cooperation? How can international supply chains be redesigned to enhance social conditions in Asia?

2) Platform economy

As the importance of more traditional platforms like intra-company freelance directories, subcontractors for day workers, or agencies for internal helpers and construction workers exists, by this initiative, FES wants to examine how platforms impact the agency of temporary workers and subcontract laborers. What are the best practices to ensure just working situations and pay within platform economies? How can economy-wide and personal shocks be reduced for platform workers? And what are future developments at the point between creativity, responsibility, and exploitation?

3) Employees and Data Protection

The future of the digital economy and its laborers play a huge role in the development of Asian countries. With Asia at the forefront of digital transformation, we still have much to realize when it comes to the consequences of digitalized economies. How is digitalization transforming companies and value chains? Who generates, collects, controls, and uses data? What is related workers’ data and how does it affect the future of work? In what way workers and trade unions recapture control over their data and use it efficiently? What are pertinent policy issues around data protection and how can data processing raise the quality of public service?

4) Automation

As low labor costs and reduced regulation with all their pitfalls are becoming unimportant, competitive advantage low- and middle-income countries are striving to create jobs in the secondary sector of the economy. What competitive advantages should policymakers emphasize on to avoid reshoring and to enhance industrial capacity? Is leap-frogging a feasible strategy for low- and middle-income nations? How will the middle-class jobs of tomorrow be generated?

5) Just transition

Clearly, COVID-19 has disastrous implications – threatening the lives of millions, economic damage, and the suffering of families and communities. The reopening of the economy should lead to the transition to an economic model focused on low-carbon development with ecological sustainability, social inclusivity, and equity. How can we promote this just transition? How can we direct corporate transformation towards ecological sustainability (through trade union networks, collective negotiations, etc.)?

So, the equity and decency of jobs in a new transition is a key issue. What kind of wages and social security will the workers in the sectors enjoy? Which parts of the workforce would be impacted? What kind of skills will be needed to enable workers to adapt to the opportunities coming with technological breakthroughs or growth trends?

Your proposal submissions should:

• Include policy papers including analysis and policy recommendations;
• have between 4,000 and 6,000 words (excepting footnotes and bibliography);
• Please follow an author-date referencing system using the United Nations Editorial Manual or APA style citation.

How to make a submission?

If you are interested, please submit a 400-700-word-long abstract of your intended paper – including research question, policy focus, and the designed outline of the paper – to info(at)fes.asia by the deadline.

Important dates:

• Successful candidates will be notified by 13^th July 2020
• A first draft should be submitted by August the  28^th 2020
• Final papers are due by 28^th September 2020

Should you have further questions, please contact Kai Dittmann at (kai.dittmann(at)fes.asia).

For more information, please read on FES’s website.