The National Labour Economic Conference (LEC) 2026 serves as the country’s premier platform for evidence‑based dialogue on labour, productivity, skills, and the future of work. Selected authors will present their research to ministers, development partners, private‑sector leaders, and academic institutions during the national conference in mid‑November 2026. The 2026 conference will be convened under theme “Cambodia’s Labour Market Transformation and Economic Transition in the ASEAN Context: Skills, Technology and Resilience amid Global Economic Uncertainty”

The LEC invites researchers, academics, policy specialists, development practitioners, and graduate students to submit original research that contributes to Cambodia’s labour market development and long‑term economic transformation.

Activity	Deadline
Abstract Submission	August 2026
Full Paper Submission	September 2026
Committee Review & Results	October 2026
Conference Presentations	Mid‑November 2026

Authors may submit papers related to, but not limited to, the following themes and topics:

Theme 1. Labour Markets and Cambodia’s New Industrial Policy: Productivity, Skills and Structural Transformation

This theme is expected to examine how Cambodia’s labour market can support the new Industrial Development Policy by strengthening productivity growth, skills development, and structural transformation toward higher value-added industries. It will focus on policy coordination across labour, industry, trade, fiscal, and energy sectors to ensure competitive, inclusive, and investment-driven economic growth.

Related Topics

• Labour Productivity and Industrial Upgrading: Evidence and Policy Implications for Cambodia’s New Industrial Development Strategy
• Skills Demand, Skills Gaps, and Workforce Readiness for Higher Value-Added Industries in Cambodia
• Structural Transformation, Employment Creation, and Labour Market Adjustment in Cambodia’s Industrial Transition

Theme 2. Industry-Led Skills Development through Advancing Public–Private Partnerships and Work-Based Learning in TVET

This will explore how stronger public–private partnerships and work-based learning can improve skills matching, strengthen school-to-work transitions, and enhance TVET responsiveness to industry needs. It will focus on scaling employer engagement, apprenticeships, and workplace training to improve youth employability and enterprise productivity.

Related Topics

• Assessing the Effectiveness of Public–Private Partnerships in TVET and Skills Development
• Work-Based Learning, Apprenticeships, and School-to-Work Transitions: Evidence from Cambodia and Beyond
• Employer Engagement in Skills Development: Innovations and Challenges in Aligning TVET with Industry Needs

Theme 3. Artificial Intelligence, Skills Transformation and the Future of Work in Cambodia

The theme is expected to examine how artificial intelligence is transforming jobs, skills demand, and workplace structures in Cambodia and across ASEAN, in line with ILC 2026 discussions on AI and decent work. It will focus on managing automation risks, developing emerging digital skills, and ensuring inclusive access to AI-driven opportunities while supporting MSMEs and protecting affected workers.

Related Topics

• Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Employment: Opportunities, Risks, and Labour Market Implications
• Emerging Digital and AI-Related Skills for Cambodia’s Workforce and Enterprises
• AI Adoption in MSMEs: Productivity Gains, Workforce Transformation, and Inclusive Growth

Theme 4. Migration, Return Migration and Labour Market Adjustment

This theme is expected to explore migration as a key labour market adjustment mechanism, with a focus on return migration, reintegration, skills recognition, and cross-border labour mobility. It will also address migrant worker protection, remittances, recruitment systems, and improving labour market outcomes for returning and mobile workers.

Related Topics

• Return Migration, Reintegration, and Skills Utilization: Labour Market Outcomes and Policy Responses
• Cross-Border Labour Mobility and Skills Recognition in ASEAN: Challenges and Opportunities
• Migrant Worker Protection, Recruitment Systems, and Decent Work in International Labour Migration

Theme 5. Labour Market Information, Forecasting and Evidence-Based Policy

This theme is focusing on strengthening labour market information systems, occupational forecasting, and evidence generation to support better policy and planning. It will cover tools such as labour force surveys, administrative data, skills anticipation, tracer studies, and the translation of evidence into policy action.

Related Topics

• Strengthening Labour Market Information Systems for Evidence-Based Employment and Skills Policies
• Occupational Forecasting, Skills Anticipation, and Future Workforce Planning in Cambodia
• Using Labour Force Surveys, Administrative Data, and Tracer Studies to Inform Labour Market Policies

Theme 6. Social Protection for a Changing World of Work

This theme is trying to examine how social protection systems can adapt to new and evolving forms of work, including platform, gig, informal, and formal employment, in line with ILC 2026 discussions on decent work in the platform economy. It will focus on expanding coverage, strengthening income security, improving portability of benefits, and better linking social protection with employment and labour market policies.

Related Topics

• Extending Social Protection Coverage to Platform, Gig, and Informal Economy Workers
• Portability of Social Protection Benefits in Dynamic and Mobile Labour Markets
•  Integrating Social Protection and Active Labour Market Policies for Inclusive Labour Market Outcomes

*** Researchers may also propose cross‑cutting or emerging topics relevant to Cambodia’s labour and economic landscape.

4.1 Abstract Requirements

• Length: 250–300 words
• Must include:
  • Research problem
  • Objectives
  • Methodology
  • Expected contribution
• Include author name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information

4.2 Full Paper Requirements

• Length: 5,000–8,000 words
• Format:
  • Times New Roman, 12 pt
  • 1.5 spacing
  • APA or Chicago citation style
• Must include:
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Literature review
  • Methodology
  • Findings and discussion
  • Policy implications
  • References

4.3 Originality

Submitted papers must be original, unpublished, non-periodicals, and working papers.

All submissions will undergo a double‑blind review ( A review method where both the authors and the reviewers are kept anonymous, so the manuscript is judged only on the quality of the work, not on who wrote it or where they come from) by the LEC Scientific Committee. Evaluation criteria include:

• Relevance to conference themes
• Academic rigor and methodological soundness
• Contribution to policy and practice
• Clarity, coherence, and originality

Authors selected for presentation will be notified in October 2026.

Selected authors will present during the National Labour Economic Conference in mid‑November 2026. Presentations may take the form of:

• Oral presentations
• Panel discussions
• Policy dialogues
• Poster sessions (for student researchers)

Presenters will receive detailed guidelines upon acceptance.

Submissions should be sent through the official LEC portal: https://lec.events/

For inquiries, contact the LEC Secretariat: sokunthea.sok@mlvt.gov.kh

The Call for Papers is open to:

• Universities and research institutes
• Independent researchers
• Government and development practitioners
• Graduate students (Master’s and PhD)
• Think tanks and policy organizations
• Private‑sector research units

Both national and international submissions are welcome.

Submissions from persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged.

The National Labour Economic Conference 2026 brings together policymakers, researchers, development partners, and industry leaders to discuss Cambodia’s labour market transformation and economic future. The conference aims to:

Build a community of labour economists and researchers in Cambodia

Strengthen evidence‑based policymaking

Promote research‑policy dialogue

Support national strategies on employment, productivity, and skills

Highlight emerging labour and economic challenges

Researchers are encouraged to contribute to this national platform and help shape Cambodia’s labour and economic future. Your insights can inform policy, inspire innovation, and support the country’s long‑term development vision.