Cambodia and ILO Boost Tripartite Cooperation for Worker Protection

PHNOM PENH, Sept 1, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are seeking to strengthen cooperation among government, employers and workers as the country reviews progress under its 2024–2028 Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), officials said Monday. Labour Minister Heng Sour made the call at a National Tripartite Workshop on the midterm review of the DWCP, which brought together government representatives, the ILO, employers’ associations and trade unions. The workshop assessed progress from 2024 through June 2026, shared lessons and set priorities for the next two years. Sour said the DWCP remains a key mechanism for developing policies that benefit both workers and employers. He credited close tripartite cooperation with supporting advances in labour protection, social security and vocational training, while contributing to Cambodia’s broader development goals. Cambodia has worked with the ILO since 2005, and the current DWCP is its sixth phase. The programme’s priorities include human capital, the economy and industrial relations, while the 2026–2027 workplan adds emphasis on labour institutions, skills development, social protection, economic formalization and social dialogue. Sour urged stronger cooperation between government institutions, professional bodies and employers’ associations to respond to global economic changes. He highlighted support for small and medium‑sized enterprises and efforts to bring informal workers into the formal system. He also called for greater attention to workplace‑level industrial relations, including training human‑resource managers to prevent and resolve disputes. The DWCP has produced measurable results, officials said, including vocational training for more than 284,000 students and National Social Security Fund membership rising to over 3.8 million. ILO country director Xiaoyan Qian said accelerating reforms and strengthening tripartism in line with international labour standards would deliver stronger worker protection, more resilient enterprises and inclusive development.