In collaboration with the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme, Cambodia drives social dialogue, capacity building, and sustainable industrial relations.
Labour relations policies should be viewed not just as tools for conflict management but as strategic instruments to boost productivity and national economic competitiveness, participants heard at a recent workshop held by the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme, in collaboration with Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT).
The workshop, titled “Strengthening the Capacity of Labour Dispute Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Cambodia,” was held in Phnom Penh on 24 April 2025. It aimed to raise awareness among social partners and key stakeholders of the importance of early dispute prevention, the role of effective social dialogue mechanisms, and the need for enhanced stakeholder cooperation.
Participants included representatives of the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, the Arbitration Council, academia, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Korea Labour and Employment Service (KLES).
The workshop saw participants share experiences and insights from the Republic of Korea’s dispute prevention and resolution systems, present the direction and progress of ongoing research aimed at improving Cambodia’s labour dispute mechanisms, and foster networking and collaboration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sovann Vannaroth, Permanent Secretary of State of MoLVT,
emphasized the importance of strengthening preventive mechanisms to ensure harmonious labour relations. “It is essential to build systems that prevent disputes before they arise, rather than focusing only on resolving them afterwards,” Vannaroth stated. “The government is committed to providing continuous training programmes to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders.”
Shin Hochul, Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme, noted that while many Asian countries, including Cambodia, recognize the importance of effective labour dispute resolution, significant challenges remain. To address these, the ILO launched the project “Social Dialogue and Capacity Building for Strengthening Labour Disputes Prevention & Resolution Mechanisms in Cambodia”, in 2024, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea.
Shin emphasized that the active participation and commitment of the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations are crucial to the project’s success. “Their active participation at the workshop demonstrated the strong commitment of Cambodia’s tripartite constituents and stakeholders to strengthening labour dispute prevention and resolution systems,” said Shin.
During the workshop, participants gained insights from KLES experts on Korea’s experiences in building effective mechanisms for preventing and resolving labour disputes, as well as practical approaches. The KLES researchers also presented the direction and current progress of their diagnostic research and fieldwork, aimed at offering actionable recommendations tailored to Cambodia’s specific needs.
Strengthening the Capacity of Labour Dispute Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Cambodia was held in Phnom Penh on 24 April 2025.
“This workshop marked an important milestone, laying the foundation for future research, dialogue, and capacity-building initiatives under the ILO-Korea Partnership Programme. These efforts are expected to further foster fair and productive employment relationships in Cambodia,” Shin added.
