By: Suntaree Saeng-ging, HNSEA Executive Director

The Asian Solidarity Economy Council (ASEC), a leading network on Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) issues in Asia, partnered with the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia (APPGM), to organize a conference on Social Development Goals (SDGs) and SSE in Asia. The conference took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 23-24, 2025, three days before the ASEAN Summit.

This forum aimed to highlight the importance of SSE in the region, showcase rich implementation experiences from its participants and Civil Society Organizations, and encourage governments to support SSE at the policy level.

Since HomeNet Philippines and HomeNet Thailand are members of HNSEA, and HNSEA is their ally, about 15 members of the HomeNet Southeast Asia family were invited to attend. During the conference, all six HNSEA member countries shared their SSE initiatives and experiences. Poonsap S. Tulaphan from HomeNet Thailand shared their experience in the panel on “Inclusive & Sustainable Economy & Development.”

Meanwhile, Suntaree H. Saeng-ging provided an overview of SSE implementation across the six HNSEA member countries in the panel titled “Taking Stock of How SSE Organizations Accelerate SDGs Implementation in ASEAN States.” She also shared perspectives from HNI and other networks of workers in the informal economy, as reflected in our position paper during the 110th session of the ILC in 2022. That session adopted the ILO resolution concerning decent work and the social and solidarity economy, emphasizing that “SSE must be socially beneficial economic activities that include income, livelihoods, gender equality, social protection, and ecological sustainability. The autonomy, independence, self-agency, and democratic participation characteristics of SSE must be protected and advanced.”

Looking ahead, in 2026, the ASEAN SDG-SSE Forum will be held in the Philippines, with HomeNet Philippines serving as one of the co-organizers.