On June 8, during a reception at the Mandarin Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, the Ministry of Employment and Labor hosted the "Korea-ILO Partnership Reception" in conjunction with the 114th ILO General Conference. The event aimed to share the achievements of the ministry, the ILO, and beneficiary countries from their collaborative projects.
Initiated in 2004, the Korea-ILO partnership focuses on international development cooperation by leveraging South Korea's expertise in employment and labor policy. The initiative supports improvements in labor standards and the capacity to implement international labor standards in developing nations.
From 2024 to 2026, a total of $11.95 million (approximately 166 billion won) will be allocated to this effort, placing South Korea as the 13th largest contributor among ILO member countries. The funding will support ten projects, five each in the ILO headquarters and the Asia-Pacific region, targeting countries such as Cambodia, Paraguay, Vietnam, and Mongolia. The projects will focus on integrating older workers into the labor market, enhancing youth employment, improving industrial safety, and fostering social dialogue.
South Korea's experience in labor market development is highly regarded internationally. The country has successfully reduced industrial accidents, expanded vocational training, and established a robust employment service system during its industrialization. Recently, it has also developed policies to address digital transformation and an aging population.
Many labor market challenges faced by developing countries mirror those that South Korea encountered in the past, including youth unemployment, the expansion of informal labor markets, industrial accidents, and insufficient vocational training systems. As a result, there is growing interest in South Korea's employment services and vocational training models.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to strengthen the tripartite partnership among South Korea, the ILO, and beneficiary countries to enhance the effectiveness of the cooperation projects and better reflect the needs of the recipient nations.
Laura Thompson, Deputy Director-General of the ILO, stated, "South Korea has been a vital and consistent development cooperation partner through the Korea-ILO partnership over the past 22 years. We have been able to achieve tangible results that respond to policy needs in areas such as youth employment, industrial safety, and skills development."
Cambodia's Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, Heng Sour, remarked, "The Korea-ILO partnership has brought meaningful changes to the lives of Cambodian workers and has significantly contributed to strengthening our social protection system, enhancing occupational safety and health, and improving social dialogue and labor administration capabilities."
Minister Kim Young-hoon emphasized, "The South Korean government will continue to strengthen practical cooperation in various areas needed by beneficiary countries, including expanding quality youth jobs, creating safe workplaces, and enhancing employment service capabilities, in collaboration with the ILO and recipient nations."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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