Background
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) leads national labour policy and coordinates tripartite consultations with employers and trade unions to shape labour migration governance. The tripartite partnership project on decent and effective labour migration in ASEAN is structured in multi-year phases, with a third phase scheduled for April 2026–March 2031.
The project provides a framework for aligning programme activities with national priorities, strengthening governance of labour migration, and supporting skills development for migrant workers and labour migrants’ administrative channels. The advisory committee functions as a consultative mechanism to discuss programme scope, operational plans, and to provide formal inputs for the 2026–2027 implementation workplan.
Key Developments
On 29 June 2026 MLVT and the International Labour Organization (ILO) opened the advisory committee meeting in Phnom Penh to discuss the project framework and implementation actions. Attendees included senior MLVT officials, ILO technical staff, representatives of development partners and diplomatic missions, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and other national and international stakeholders.
The project has been implemented in phases: the source documents record Phase 1 (10 June 2010–31 May 2015), Phase 2 (1 November 2015–30 September 2025), and the ongoing Phase 3 beginning April 2026 and running through March 2031.
Institutional Role
MLVT serves as the national anchor agency for the tripartite partnership, coordinating stakeholder engagement and aligning programme activities with Cambodia’s national labour priorities. The ILO provides technical support and facilitates multi-stakeholder dialogue under the tripartite model that includes government, employer and worker representatives.
Operational Implications
The advisory committee meeting aimed to (1) review the project’s institutional framework and activity plan for alignment with national priorities, (2) build shared understanding of programme strategies and opportunities to strengthen cooperation on decent work and labour migration governance, and (3) discuss and endorse the 2026–2027 workplan for national implementation. These objectives are intended to guide the immediate operational decisions for the project at the national level.
Source
Official MLVT announcement: MLVT Facebook post, 29 June 2026.
