Page 99 - The Ethics of ASEAN

Ethics of the ASEAN Human-Centric Workplace

work ethics with the perspective of long-term workforce
sustainability.
Besides rules-based ethics, AHDO has defined a regional
work culture using the virtue ethics of shared values coming
from different ASEAN countries. These virtues can be divided
into three dimensions: freedom, leadership and change.
In terms of freedom, we have the word Merdeka used
commonly in Malaysia and Singapore, which refers to the way
people expect to have freedom and to be respected as equals
at work. Together with the Thai word Sanook, which means “to
have fun at work”, it means that work in the ASEAN ecosystem
should be free and engaging.
In terms of leadership, we have exemplary humanism using
the word malasakit in the Philippines which means humanity,
care or compassion; and for social collaboration we have gotong Figure 1: Mr Le Hong Phuc,
royong, an Indonesian word. 2022 Chair of ASEAN Human
Development Organisation
(AHDO)
Lastly, in terms of change, Mr Phuc describes the core
values of learning, resilience, and innovation. He explains the
Vietnamese word kien cuong meaning resilience and underlines
the region’s strong capability of change through learning and
innovation.
Together, these ethical virtues explain what makes
leadership work in ASEAN organisations.
Mr Phuc adds that the region seems to be taking a more
active stance in addressing ethical issues related to work and
its ecosystem. At the level of law and policy, several Member
States have pushed for better regulation of workforces
and codes of ethics. An example are the policies on sexual
harassment and fair opportunities for women.
However, Mr Phuc points out that whether such ethics are
practiced or not stems from existing culture and values as well
as increasing awareness of the ethical and moral dimensions of
work in ASEAN.

Nadiah Tan Abdullah: ASEAN’s complex virtue
ethics must be balanced by rules-based ethics

According to Ms. Nadiah Tan Abdullah, Chair of AHDO Malaysia
and Chief Human Resources Officer at SP Setia Berhad,
the reality of the ASEAN work environment is that you see
such behaviours such as speaking out or disagreeing with Figure 2: Ms. Nadiah Tan
superiors being suppressed in favour of respect and harmony Abdullah, Chair of AHDO
for hierarchy and seniority. The concept of “face,” which refers Malaysia and Chief Human
Resources Officer at SP
Setia Berhad

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