Phnom Penh, Cambodia - The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in collaboration with the United Nations in Cambodia, has convened the first meeting of the Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG) marking the official launch of this technical-level governance structure under the Global Accelerator, on 21 January 2026.
The JTWG, comprising relevant line ministries, UN agencies, development partners, and workers’ and employers’ organizations chaired by the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training and the UN Resident Coordinator, will provide strategic oversight on the implementation of the Global Accelerator’s operational and programmatic aspects through the joint secretariat established. This first meeting was convened to review the joint work plan between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations on the implementation of Cambodia’s National Roadmap for the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions.
“The joint work plan between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations aims to ensure alignment with national priorities and concrete implementation, demonstrating the Government’s strong commitment to working closely with the UN and development partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, said H.E. Mr. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, and Co-chair of the JTWG. “The project focuses on promoting decent job creation, particularly in the green, digital, and care economies, as well as expanding social protection system. Employment and social protection are key pillars for achieving Cambodia’s Vision 2050 and serve as important drivers of social justice”.
“The United Nations in Cambodia is fully committed to supporting the Royal Government in this transformative agenda,” said Ms Xiaoyan Qian, Director, ILO Decent Work Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR, Co-chairing the meeting on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia. "The Joint Technical Working Group is a critical platform for aligning the combined efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia, private sector, social partners, UN and other development partners behind Cambodia’s development priorities. Under the coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator, and in close collaboration across the UN system, we aim to help mobilise the necessary expertise and investments to turn the Roadmap’s vision into tangible results for the people of Cambodia."
The development of the national roadmap was led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, with extensive consultations undertaken with a wide range of stakeholders. A robust governance structure places political leadership under the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, while operational implementation is led by an Inter-Ministerial Working Group (IMWG) chaired by the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.
The roadmap, endorsed by the government in December 2024, sets out an integrated national strategy to confront complex socio-economic challenges by addressing national priorities such as improving human resource development, stimulating sustainable and resilient employment growth, and strengthening social protection systems through five intended outcomes.
- Adoption of pro-employment macroeconomic and financing policies
- Improved skills for enhanced and inclusive employability
- Increased coverage of social protection, including the path towards UHC
- Enhanced formalization, sectoral growth, and productivity
- Enabling environment for an inclusive labour market created
The United Nations in Cambodia, together with other development partners, is supporting the Government in implementing the Roadmap through two United Nations Joint Programmes funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund—Decent Jobs and Social Protection Expansion for Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth and Better Livelihoods and Human Capital through Improved Service Delivery in Social Protection and Skills—as well as through other single-agency projects.
Cambodia has been a Pathfinder Country of the Global Accelerator since 2023. The Global Accelerator is a flagship initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, designed to help countries overcome multiple crises and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to close the global gaps in decent work and social protection by fostering integrated policy solutions that connect investments in jobs, social protection, and a green economy.