Ministry of Labour, Oxfam and ILO Convene National Workshop to Advance Social Protection and Formalization under Cambodia’s Global Accelerator Roadmap

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Phnom Penh, 22 July 2026_The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), Oxfam and the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened a one-day national workshop on 22 July 2026 to share Cambodia’s Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (GA) Roadmap and its implementation progress, with a particular focus on strengthening social protection and advancing the formalization of the informal economy. The workshop brought together approximately 300 participants from government institutions, the United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and representatives of informal and self-employed workers to discuss opportunities and priorities for collaborative action.

The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions is a flagship initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General, launched in September 2021 to support countries in developing integrated policies that create decent jobs, expand social protection coverage, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic transitions. Recognizing the initiative’s potential to accelerate national development priorities, Cambodia joined the Global Accelerator as a Pathfinder Country in July 2023 and endorsed its national Roadmap in December 2024.

Cambodia’s Global Accelerator Roadmap is aligned with the Royal Government’s Pentagonal Strategy Phase I and Vision 2050. It outlines a comprehensive approach to advancing employment, social protection, skills development, enterprise growth, productivity, and labor market inclusion. Under the leadership of MLVT and through an inter-ministerial coordination mechanism, the Roadmap is being implemented through a four-year work plan covering 2025–2028.

The workshop was held at a critical moment as Cambodia continues its efforts to address persistent informality in the labor market. Approximately 88% of the country’s workforce remains engaged in the informal economy, where workers often have limited or no access to social protection and legal labor protections. At the same time, Cambodia has made significant progress in expanding social protection coverage, with around seven million people equivalent to approximately 41% of the population now benefiting from social health protection schemes. Despite these achievements, accelerating the transition of vulnerable workers into legally recognized and socially protected employment remains a key national priority.

Guided by the National Strategy for Informal Economic Development 2023–2028, participants examined pathways to strengthen social security registration and coverage for workers in the informal economy, including those employed by micro, small and medium enterprises and self-employed workers. Discussions addressed emerging forms of employment, including digital platform and gig work, and explore appropriate regulatory and policy measures to ensure these workers can access protection through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Since joining the Global Accelerator as a Pathfinder Country in 2023, Cambodia has accelerated efforts to align employment, skills development, enterprise growth and social protection policies. The Roadmap contributed directly to the country's ambition of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030 and realizing Cambodia Vision 2050 through more productive, resilient and inclusive labor markets.

Through presentations and interactive discussions, participants reviewed Cambodia’s progress under the Global Accelerator Roadmap, shared lessons learned from social security expansion efforts and identify practical solutions to strengthen mandatory and voluntary registration mechanisms. The dialogue explored strategies to support sustainable and comprehensive social protection coverage while promoting greater labor market formalization.

The workshop strengthened a shared understanding among stakeholders on the Global Accelerator initiative and Cambodia’s national commitments, while promoting stronger collaboration across government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and grassroots representatives. Participants contributed recommendations on extending social protection coverage to informal and self-employed workers, improving legal and registration frameworks for emerging forms of employment, and identifying opportunities for coordinated partnerships, resource mobilization, and joint action.

The event produced concrete recommendations on strengthening legal classification and registration pathways for digital platform workers, enhancing inter-ministerial coordination and enforcement mechanisms, promoting simplified digital registration tools, and expanding community-based outreach efforts. It also helped identify priority areas for partnership and investment to support the implementation of Cambodia’s Global Accelerator Roadmap and advance the country’s vision of inclusive growth, decent work, and universal social protection.