MANILA, Philippines —  Filipino companies bested Southeast Asian (SEA) firms in promoting workplace diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI), according to a survey.

According to the 2025 Hiring, Compensation and Benefits Report released by job portal Jobstreet by SEEK, 63 percent of Filipino companies have already rolled out DEI initiatives, the highest in the region.

“About four percent plan to implement DEI and 23 percent may consider doing so in the next 12 months. Encouragingly, only a small group of 10 percent does not intend to adopt any DEI initiatives in the next 12 months,” the report read.

Among the 2,119 professionals surveyed, 62 percent said their companies are enforcing anti-discrimination and harassment policies, while 59 percent reported the creation of employee resource groups.

Other initiatives include providing unconscious bias training, which is being implemented by 54 percent of Filipino companies, conducting regular DEI assessments at 44 percent and offering mentorship programs for underrepresented groups at 46 percent.

The Philippines also leads in fair hiring practices, as nearly 47 percent adopt blind resume screening and 77 percent regularly update job descriptions to minimize bias and support inclusivity.

Other Southeast Asian nations followed, with Thailand at 58 percent, Indonesia at 56 percent, Singapore at 42 percent and Malaysia at 40 percent.

Based on the report, around half of the companies in SEA have adopted DEI initiatives, followed by 28 percent considering implementation within the next year, 18 percent with no plans to adopt and two percent preparing to introduce them soon.

The report attributes the Philippines and Thailand’s DEI leadership to cultural values and protective policies, including the Anti-Age Discrimination Act, which reinforces inclusive workplace practices in the Philippines.

“In a country with a large geographic distribution and diverse cultures like the Philippines, it is important to place diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workplace to foster an environment where every voice is heard,” the report stated.

It gathered insights between September and October 2024, covering various industries including those in trade, manufacturing and logistics services, technology and data, marketing, advertising, consulting and legal and  health care professionals.

Original Article: https://www.philstar.com/business/2025/07/05/2455547/philippines-leads-sea-workplace-diversity-survey