Trade for Decent Work Project in Mongolia - Phase 1

Introduction

Mongolia has ratified nine out of ten ILO Fundamental Conventions, including the recently elevated Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155). The project aims to promote decent work and sustain Mongolia’s eligibility as a beneficiary of the European Union Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). It supports the Government and social partners in applying and reporting on ratified conventions to the ILO supervisory bodies. Additionally, the project fosters and facilitates ongoing dialogue among tripartite partners to promote and ratify the remaining ILO Fundamental Convention, specifically the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention 187 (2006).
 

Project Objective

The project aims to improve the application of and reporting on the ILO Fundamental Conventions in Mongolia through improved labour relations and working conditions.

Achievements

2. Primarily, the Government was supported to enhance reporting capacity while harmonizing national legislation with ratified ILO Conventions. In this regard, the project provided technical support to the National Tripartite Subcommittee on the Application of International Labour Standards to address comments from the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR). This collaboration facilitated the preparation of comprehensive reports to the ILO.
3. Following the approval of Mongolia’s new Labour Law in 2021, support was provided for the development of regulations crucial for its effective enforcement. Employing innovative communication strategies, the project produced  18 short videos and  10 comics to disseminate information about key provisions of the Labour Law. This initiative significantly enhanced public understanding and engagement via targeted social media campaigns and collaborations with the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel. These communication materials are widely used by the government, social partners, and NGOs for broader outreach.
4. Furthermore, the project empowered legal professionals by augmenting their knowledge and skills to enable them to utilise international labour standards in their practice. They benefited from tailored advanced training sessions conducted in collaboration with the International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO) and the Mongolian Bar Association.
5. Adopting a comprehensive approach, the project actively addressed workplace challenges such as violence, harassment, and child labour, while advocating for occupational safety and health. Notably, it spearheaded the development of policies, training modules, and the dissemination of critical resources like the ILO’ practical guide for employers on Violence and Harrassment at Work.
6. Aligned with its objectives, the project strategically coordinated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP) to organize a national policy discussion and comprehensive child labour training on the World Day Against Child Labour. Additionally, the project’s support to the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia (NHRCM) in conducting a Child Labour Qualitative Study yielded invaluable insights, directly informing essential policy updates including revisions to the list of prohibited jobs for minors and the formulation of light work conditions for children.
7. The project also led a robust social media campaign during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Collaborating effectively with government bodies, UN agencies, and civil society organizations, the campaign significantly raised awareness among the public including young women and girls regarding gender-based violence and harassment in professional settings, while also promoting the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). This campaign had a significant impact and reached over 620,570 individuals through targeted social media channels.

Activities

In Mongolia, the project prioritises the following:

• Supporting the country in implementing ratified ILO Fundamental Conventions.
• Supporting legal reform in the country to enhance the alignment of national law with ILO Fundamental Conventions.
• Strengthening the capacities of institutions and social partners on international labour standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
• Strengthening the capacity of the country to meet its reporting obligations.

For future information

UN House 604
United Nations Street 12
Sukhbaatar district
Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
Tel: (976) 11320624
Email: [email protected]