South Korea and ILO Strengthen Cooperation for 'Decent Work' in Developing Nations, Investing 16.6 Billion Won Over 3 Years

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is set to expand "decent work" in developing countries and strengthen cooperation in the employment and labor sector in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Ministry announced on June 9 that it co-hosted the "Korea-ILO Cooperation Partnership Reception" with the ILO at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 8 (local time).

The event was held on the sidelines of the 114th session of the International Labour Conference and marked the first time such a gathering has been organized since South Korea and the ILO began their collaborative projects over 20 years ago.

The Korea-ILO cooperation project is an international development cooperation initiative that began in 2004.

Leveraging South Korea's policy experience and expertise in employment and labor, the project supports developing nations in improving their labor systems and strengthening their capacity to implement international labor standards in collaboration with the ILO.

Over the past three years (2024–2026), a total of 11.95 million USD (approximately 16.6 billion KRW) has been provided through these cooperation projects.

This contribution ranks 13th among all ILO member states.

The initiative consists of 10 projects in total, including 5 projects at the ILO headquarters and 5 in the Asia-Pacific region.

It primarily focuses on supporting developing countries such as Cambodia, Paraguay, Vietnam, and Mongolia in strengthening policy capabilities related to the integration of older workers into the labor market, youth employment, industrial safety, and social dialogue.

Laura Thompson, ILO Deputy Director-General for External and Corporate Relations, who attended the event, stated, "The South Korean government has been one of our most important and consistent development cooperation partners for the past 22 years," adding, "Thanks to the Ministry's continuous leadership and support, we have been able to achieve results that respond to policy needs in the field."

Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia, expressed his gratitude, saying, "The Korea-ILO cooperation project is a valuable partnership that has created meaningful changes in the lives of Cambodian workers and the development of the labor sector."

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon emphasized, "The South Korean government will continue to strengthen practical cooperation with the ILO and beneficiary countries in various areas they need, such as expanding decent jobs for youth, creating safe workplaces, and enhancing employment service capabilities."

The Ministry plans to further strengthen the tripartite partnership between South Korea, the ILO, and the beneficiary countries to enhance the effectiveness of these cooperation projects.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.