Cambodia (The Kingdom of)

Further Information

ILO Subregional Office for East Asia

Cambodia became a member of the ILO in 1969. Since the early 1990s, the ILO has been an active partner in Cambodia’s economic, social and democratic recovery, playing an important role in helping to restore livelihoods, generate sustainable employment, rebuild infrastructure and set-up and strengthen democratic institutions.

Although the rate of poverty continues to decline in Cambodia, rural poverty remains obstinately high at 40 per cent. Eighty-five per cent of the population is in the informal economy, mostly in agriculture, forestry, and fishing and in small and micro enterprises. The formal sectors of garments and tourism are the main engines of growth, with garment manufacturing accounting for 85 per cent of Cambodia’s exports and employing some 350,000 workers, mostly women. Better Factories Cambodia, which works with the garment industry, is a unique programme managed by the ILO and supported by the government, trade unions and the industry employers’ association.

The ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) provides the basis for the ILO’s contribution to the Government’s Rectangular Strategy for Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency and the National Strategic Development Framework. The DWCP addresses a wide range of issues, including skills and human resources development, youth and women’s employment, the informal economy, SMEs, social protection, industrial relations and social dialogue, and labour market governance.

The current DWCP (2008-2010) focuses on three priority areas which also reflect the ILO’s commitment to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). These areas are:

1) Skills development for productive employment;

2) Labour governance and rights;

3) Social protection for targeted groups.

Key documents

Key resources

The United Nations in Cambodia (Web page)
The Royal Government of Cambodia (Web page)
Ministry of Planning of Cambodia (Web page)
Better Factories Cambodia (Web page)
ILO AbilityAsia (Web page)
ILO Employment Intensive Investment Programme (Web page)
Managing Cross-border Movement of Labour in Southeast Asia
The project aims to protect migrant workers by developing a knowledge base on migration issues for policy makers and building up the capacity of governments to manage orderly labour migration. ... (Project)
International Labour Organization and Indigenous and Tribal peoples - support to Indigenous peoples project in Cambodia
Since May 2005, with its approaches and mandate based on the principles of Convention No. 169, the ILO-ITP in Cambodia is promoting participation and consultation of indigenous community in making any decision affecting them with the aim to reduce poverty in a way that respects their culture, distinct way of life, tradition and customs. ... (Project documentation)
International Labour Organization and Indigenous and Tribal peoples - suport to Indigenous peoples project in Cambodia (in Khmer) - [pdf 152 KB]
Since May 2005, with its approaches and mandate based on the principles of Convention No. 169, the ILO-ITP in Cambodia is promoting participation and consultation of indigenous community in making any decision affecting them with the aim to reduce poverty in a way that respects their culture, distinct way of life, tradition and customs. ... (Document)
Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality, Phase III
The Women’s Entrepreneurship Development and Gender Equality (WEDGE) project (2008-2011) promotes women’s entrepreneurship and support women entrepreneurs to create decent employment, achieve women’s empowerment and gender equality, and work toward poverty reduction. (Project)
Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Association (CAMFEBA) (Web page)