The National Productivity Council (NPC), India, and APO Secretariat hosted an online training course on Work Design for Inclusive Productivity, 19–22 September. Twenty-eight participants from nine APO members attended, facilitated by three resource persons from India, Japan, and the Netherlands. Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become increasingly important topics in the workplace. Inclusive productivity plays a vital role in the growth and development of organizations by helping them to accommodate the needs of diverse employees. Work processes that consider the needs of diverse employees are even more important since the COVID-19 pandemic, which made remote and hybrid work arrangements more prevalent. The training course addressed the principles and benefits of inclusive work design, tools and techniques for designing new work arrangements, building a culture of inclusion and diversity in the workplace, and inclusive work design strategies.

The course introduced new tools and techniques such as Inclusive Work Design (IWR), SMART Redesign, and the Muti-Layered Work Design approach for assessing and developing work processes that are inclusive and efficient. Through insightful case studies of practical applications, participants were able to examine the details of work design. The knowledge gained can be disseminated to colleagues, creating a chain reaction of positive change. In the future, similar training courses or conferences focused on inclusive work design for specific sectors may be considered.