ILO/Korea Partnership Programme

ILO strengthens its partnership with the Republic of Korea for 2021–23

The International Labour Organization (ILO) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), Republic of Korea as part of the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme 2021-23.

On 6 May 2021, the IILO and the Republic of Korea through the MOEL had an official signing ceremony of the MOU for the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme 2021–23. Over eighteen years of partnership, this new MOU will reinforce the collaboration and strengthen the partnership between the ILO and MOEL with support to the seven development projects globally. The budget for the new seven projects for 2021–23 is US$3.9 million, and it has been continually increased from US$3 million for 2015–17 and US$3.6 million for 2018–20.

The projects under the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme 2021-23

In particular, through the three regional projects under the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) including skills development, social protection, and occupational safety and health projects, the ROAP will support: (i) the improvement of mechanisms for mutual skills recognition and the digitization of technical and vocational education and training; (ii) the implementation of sustainable social protection floors for workers and their families; and (iii) the enhancement and implementation of occupational safety and health standards for the countries in the region [For more details, please see the factsheets on the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme webpage (www.ilo.org/asia/projects/korea/lang--en/index.htm).

On this occasion, the MOU was signed by Mr Noh, Kil Jun, Director-General of the Bureau of International Cooperation on behalf of the MOEL and Ms Rie Vejs-Kjeldgaard, Director of the Department of Partnership and Field Support of ILO. The Labour Attaché of the Permanent Mission of Republic of Korea to the UN in Geneva, Mr Ha, Chang Yong; the representatives from the MOEL; the Deputy Regional Director of ROAP, Ms Panudda Boonpala, and other ILO staff from both the headquarter and ROAP also attended the ceremony.

The Republic of Korea has been a Member State of the ILO since 1991 and has ratified 32 Conventions, including 7 Fundamental, 3 Governance and 22 Technical Conventions. The Republic of Korea has a longstanding relationship with the ILO in the field of development cooperation. It supports the ILO´s mandate by contributing to both its core budget and its development cooperation programmes.