Young workers strengthen their knowledge of labour rights and decent work in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (ILO News) – Young workers from enterprises participating in the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme strengthened their knowledge of labour rights, safe and healthy working conditions, equality at work and responsible business practices during a one-day training held in Ulaanbaatar on 25 August 2026.

The “Decent work and Youth rights at work” training aimed to equip young workers from cashmere and hospitality sectors, as well as university students with practical knowledge to better understand their rights and responsibilities in the workplace and contribute to safer, more inclusive and youth-friendly working environments.

The training was delivered using the ILO’s Work Wise Youth: A guide to youth rights at work, a practical training package designed to help young people understand their rights and equip them with the knowledge and tools to advocate for fair and decent working conditions.

In Mongolia, the Work Wise Youth facilitator’s guide and toolkit were translated, adapted and localized in 2024 to reflect relevant provisions of Mongolia’s Labour Law and national context. Since then, the localized materials have been used to raise awareness among young people about decent work principles and rights at work.

The training brought together specialists from the government, workers’ and employers’ organizations legal practitioners and other stakeholders, providing participants with different perspectives on rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Through presentations, discussions and practical examples, participants explored how labour rights apply to situations they may encounter in their everyday working lives.

During the training, the SCORE Youth Innovation Challenge 2026 was also launched, inviting young workers from participating SCORE enterprises to develop and test practical ideas that can improve workplace productivity, working conditions and youth-friendly practices. The challenge provides young employees with an opportunity to put their ideas into practice and contribute directly to improvements within their enterprises.

Young people entering the labour market can be particularly vulnerable to poor working conditions and may have limited awareness of their employment rights. Strengthening their understanding of these rights is therefore an important part of supporting the transition from education to decent work and enabling young workers to participate more confidently in workplace decision-making.

Participants included 29 young employees from 12 enterprises taking part in the SCORE Programme in Mongolia’s wool and cashmere and hospitality sectors and university students participating in on-the-job training programme. Through enterprise training and coaching, SCORE supports businesses to improve productivity, workplace cooperation and working conditions, while creating opportunities for workers, including young employees, to contribute to workplace improvements.

The activity was organized with the support of the ILO’s Youth Employment Promotion Project (YEPP), funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme, in collaboration with the Trade for Decent Work Project, funded by the European Union.

By combining practical knowledge of labour rights with enterprise-level interventions, the ILO is supporting young people in Mongolia to access not only employment opportunities, but also decent work that provides rights, protection and opportunities to learn, grow and contribute in the workplace.