Background
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) led the fourth meeting of signatories to the memorandum of understanding on the Better Factories Cambodia program for the 2023–2027 period on 28 May 2026 at the ministry headquarters. A memorandum of understanding governs the Better Factories Cambodia program for the 2023–2027 period.
Participants at the meeting evaluated implementation progress and discussed preparations for a follow-on memorandum covering 2028–2032, identifying priority technical areas to guide future cooperation. Priority areas under the memorandum include occupational safety and health, working conditions, freedom of association, social security, social dialogue, and the promotion of digital wage payments.
Key Developments
The meeting was chaired by Minister Heng Sour and included representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the Textile, Apparel, Footwear and Travel Goods Association of Cambodia (TAFTAC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and trade unions as observers. Attendees gave a positive assessment of the results achieved under the ILO-supported Better Factories (ILO-BFC) project and acknowledged support from the Ministry of Commerce and TAFTAC for ongoing cooperation.
Discussions emphasised both the review of results from the 2023–2027 MoU and the technical and coordination work needed to prepare a new memorandum for 2028–2032, with a focus on sustaining improvements in workplace conditions and supplier confidence.
Institutional Role
MLVT acted as the coordinating anchor for signatory parties, while the ILO-BFC project provided project-level implementation support and technical inputs. Employers’ associations and trade unions were identified as key partners for implementing capacity-building activities at factories and enterprises, including managerial and human resources training for compliance with agreed standards.
Compliance Implications
Signatory parties highlighted enterprise-level measures such as strengthening occupational safety and health systems, improving working condition practices, and adopting digital payroll systems as priorities for further technical assistance and capacity building. Participants also stressed social dialogue and measures to protect freedom of association as part of the MoU’s compliance and cooperation framework.
Source
Official meeting notice and summary published by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) on 28 May 2026: MLVT Facebook post.
