In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are joining forces to advance decent work through a comprehensive 2026–2027 workplan under the Cambodia Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2024–2028. The plan focuses on labor policy reforms, institutional strengthening, skills development, and the expansion of social protection, particularly for informal and uncovered workers, to ensure inclusive economic growth and workforce resilience.
During the January 22, 2026 meeting, the MLVT, alongside employers’ and workers’ organizations and relevant ministries, endorsed priority areas that build on the achievements of the 2024–2025 workplan. The initiatives aim to formalize the economy, improve industrial relations, strengthen social dialogue, and safeguard labor rights, including protections for migrant workers.
Minister Heng Sour emphasized that the workplan is centered on execution and results, highlighting the importance of tripartite cooperation to align labor reforms, skills training, social protection, and industrial relations for a more resilient workforce. Employers, represented by CAMFEBA Vice President Sok Lor, stressed that skilled workers, productive enterprises, and fair labor relations are essential for sustainable economic growth.
Workers’ representatives, including Sam Soeun, highlighted that the workplan strengthens social dialogue and ensures fair treatment of all workers, especially the most vulnerable, ensuring that Cambodia’s economic transformation is inclusive. Xiaoyan Qian, ILO Country Director for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, noted that the DWCP is not merely a cooperation framework but a delivery instrument, sharpening priorities and focusing collective action on tangible improvements in people’s lives.
The finalized 2026–2027 workplan is set to be officially endorsed by the Government, workers, and employers’ organizations in March 2026, reinforcing Cambodia’s commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and formalized labor market.
