Mongolia celebrates 50th anniversary as ILO member State

Today marks 50 years since Mongolia became a member of the International Labour Organization.

Press release | 24 May 2018
Ulaanbaatar (ILO News) – On 24 May 1968, Mongolia became a member State of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Over the last 50 years, the ILO and Mongolia have worked together to promote decent work in the country.  

The ILO and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection worked together with social partners to implement a Decent Work Country Programme for the period between 2006 and 2010. A new Programme for the period between 2017 and 2021 has also been established and will focus on addressing Mongolia’s current socioeconomic challenges.


The ILO has actively engaged in developing social dialogue in Mongolia, leading to the establishment of tripartite consultation mechanisms. Every second year, Mongolian social partners and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection agree on the social and economic orientations with direct implications for labour and employment. Currently, the ILO provides technical advice to the tripartite constituents to support the reform of labour laws, which date back to 1999.

Additionally, Mongolia is making significant progress in recognizing and implementing fundamental principles and rights at work. Twenty labour conventions have been ratified including the eight fundamental conventions concerning freedom of association, the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced or compulsory labour, the abolition of child labour, and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation.

Another important area of cooperation between the ILO and Mongolia is the strengthening of institutional and individual capacities, which have improved significantly since the beginning of the transition toward a market economy. Many employers, workers’ organizations, and public administration officials took part in training and skills development meetings organized in, and outside of, Mongolia. In the transition from a socialist to a market economy, the ILO has supported the creation of employers’ organizations, which did not exist previously.

Mongolia has implemented several technical cooperation programmes in the past. The most recent ones include “Informal Economy, Poverty and Employment” (2004-2006), funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) UK; “Programme for Elimination of Child Labour” (2005-2010), funded by the US Department of Labour, “Promotion of Employment of Persons with Disabilities” (2010-2011), funded by the Czech Republic; “Social Protection and Employment” (2014-2016), funded by the Japanese Government. Further, Mongolia is currently implementing GSP+ projects that promote fundamental principles and rights at work, which are funded by the EU.

With the ILO’s support, several national policies and programmes have been developed and implemented. These include: the State Policy on Informal Economy, the National Action Plan for Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the Wage Policy, and the State Policy on Employment.

The 50th anniversary represents a unique opportunity to look back and reflect. Learning from its achievements and struggles over the last 5 decades, Mongolia is better equipped to address the new challenges facing the world of work. Social dialogue will remain key to helping the country cope with the profound changes affecting the world of work in the context of rapid technological innovations, climate change, and globalization.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, a range of activities are planned including high level meetings, workshops, rallies, TV programmes, newspaper articles, essays, photos and drawing competitions.

For ILO activities in Mongolia, please visit www.ilo.org/beijing

For further information, please contact

Bolormaa Purevsuren
ILO National Coordinator for Mongolia
ulaanbaatar@ilo.org
976-11-320624