AKP Phnom Penh, January 21, 2026 —

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with Cambodia, focusing on youth skill development and gender equality through strategic investments in the nation’s "care economy."

During a high-level meeting in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, Ms. Xiaoyan Qian, ILO Country Director for Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, to outline a roadmap for future technical assistance.

The ILO chief emphasised that future support will target the "care policy" ecosystem. This includes infrastructure investment and policies designed to redistribute care work, expanding affordable childcare services, and strengthening maternity protections.

"The ILO aims to provide policy-level technical assistance to promote private-sector-led childcare centres and care cooperatives," Ms. Qian said. 

She noted that formalising the care sector is essential for ensuring that workers—particularly women—and employers can actively participate in and benefit from a more inclusive economy.

The initiative aligns with Cambodia’s broader goals of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing Early Childhood Education (ECE).

In response, H.E. Dr. Hang Chuon Naron welcomed the ILO's continued engagement, highlighting the long-standing partnership between the Ministry and the UN agency in bridging the gap between education and the labour market.

Key pillars of this ongoing collaboration include Integrating "Know About Business" (KAB) modules into secondary school curricula; Modernising vocational high schools to meet international labour standards and improving career counseling for students; Joint efforts to prevent school dropouts and protect vulnerable children.; and Updating curricula to ensure graduates possess the employability skills demanded by modern employers.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the ILO’s focus on the care economy and youth skills is foundational to the Royal Government’s Human Capital Development Strategy.

"These collaborations are vital to ensuring our youth enter the workforce with not only the right skills but also a clear understanding of labour rights and workplace safety," H.E. Dr. Naron said.

The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to explore new frameworks for cooperation, aimed at transforming Cambodia’s care policies into a robust engine for economic growth and social equity.

By K. Rithy Reak