Cambodia Strengthens Global Partnerships to Advance Skills Development, Decent Jobs and Workforce Resilience

GENEVA, June 12, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is stepping up international cooperation to boost workforce skills, decent employment and social protection as part of its broader human capital development agenda, officials said Friday.

On the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference, Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour met Jérôme Cosandey, Vice State Secretary of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to discuss deeper collaboration on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), workforce skills development and industry-aligned training.

Sour outlined Cambodia’s ongoing TVET reforms, including stronger industry partnerships, expanded digital skills training and the government’s program to support 1.5 million youth from poor and vulnerable households. He also expressed interest in Switzerland’s vocational training and apprenticeship system.

The Swiss side welcomed Cambodia’s focus on skills development and agreed to explore cooperation in apprenticeships, quality assurance, trainer development and knowledge exchange.

Separately, Sour co-chaired a high-level ministerial meeting on the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, jointly organized by Cambodia and Uzbekistan.

He stressed that investment in skills, decent work and social protection is vital to building economic resilience and achieving sustainable development amid global challenges such as technological disruption, climate change and labor market shifts.

Sour highlighted Cambodia’s 2025-2028 Global Accelerator Roadmap, which aims to promote decent jobs, strengthen social protection and support inclusive growth.

Officials from Uzbekistan and the International Labour Organization (ILO) praised Cambodia’s role as a pioneering country in advancing the initiative and turning global commitments into practical action.

The engagements underscore Cambodia’s drive to leverage international partnerships to build a future-ready workforce and reinforce long-term economic resilience.