Cambodia Wins ILO Praise for Advances in Jobs, Skills and Social Protection
Cambodia Wins ILO Praise for Advances in Jobs, Skills and Social Protection
PHNOM PENH, April 24, 2026 — The International Labour Organization (ILO) has praised Cambodia for progress in implementing its “Decent Work” programme and the United Nations-backed Global Accelerator initiative, officials said after talks in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian Labour Minister Heng Sour met Xiaoyan Qian, ILO country director for Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, on April 22 to review cooperation on labour reforms, skills development and human capital programmes, according to a ministry statement released on Thursday.
During the meeting, Qian highlighted what she described as significant progress under Cambodia’s Decent Work agenda, saying the results had drawn attention not only within the ILO but also from the newly appointed United Nations resident coordinator.
She also welcomed Cambodia’s progress in implementing the Global Accelerator programme, a UN initiative aimed at expanding decent jobs and social protection while accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Officials said the programme could help attract additional development partners and funding support for labour market reforms and welfare expansion.
Heng Sour reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to becoming one of the initiative’s “champion” countries and said Phnom Penh would continue playing an active role internationally by sharing experiences and contributing policy ideas.
He added that broader support from development partners remained essential, noting that programmes such as social protection and decent work could not rely solely on existing national budgets if they were to be implemented quickly and effectively.
The two sides also discussed recognition of prior learning (RPL) assessments for returning Cambodian migrant workers, particularly those coming back from Thailand, as well as strengthening Sector Skills Councils to better align vocational training with labour market demand.
Cambodia also reviewed ongoing skills training cooperation funded by China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), including the planned handover of national occupational standards and training manuals during the country’s National Technical and Vocational Education Day in June.
The government said it remained committed to ILO principles and international labour standards while seeking new partnerships to expand workforce skills and improve employment quality.
Cambodia’s garment, tourism, construction and services sectors remain key employers, with labour market reforms seen as central to sustaining economic growth and attracting foreign investment.
