ILO Launches SCORE Programme to Boost Youth Jobs in Mongolia’s Cashmere Sector

In June 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for China and Mongolia officially launched the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Programme in Mongolia, marking a significant step toward improving productivity, enhancing workplace cooperation, and creating decent job opportunities for young people in the country’s cashmere industry. The initiative is a core component of the broader Youth Employment Promotion (YEP) Project, funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme.

This launch brings Mongolia into a global movement—SCORE has been implemented in more than 6,000 enterprises across 30 countries over the past 15 years. Now, Mongolia’s vibrant but underserved cashmere sector becomes the focal point of efforts to enhance competitiveness while fostering better working conditions and sustainable practices.

SCORE: Enhancing SME Competitiveness and Responsibility

The SCORE Programme is a flagship ILO initiative aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a dual purpose:

1. Improving workplace cooperation through better communication between management and workers.

2. Boosting productivity through practical tools and techniques for better human resource (HR) and quality management.

In Mongolia, the SCORE initiative is designed to contribute directly to the YEP Project’s goal of promoting decent work for youth—a particularly pressing need in a country where many young people face limited access to formal employment and quality workplace conditions.

Targeting Mongolia’s Crown Jewel: The Cashmere Industry

The pilot phase of the SCORE Programme in Mongolia will support five leading enterprises in the cashmere industry:

• Goyol Cashmere

• Khanbogd Cashmere

• Evseg Cashmere

• Capra Doro Cashmere

• Blue Sky Cashmere

These firms were selected for their industry presence and potential to serve as role models in the application of responsible business practices. The focus areas will include:

• Workplace cooperation: Creating dialogue-based cultures that reduce conflict and foster trust.

• Human resource management: Improving recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee retention.

• Quality management: Establishing systems to enhance product consistency and reduce waste.

The participating companies represent a key part of Mongolia’s identity and economy—the cashmere industry is often referred to as a “national treasure”, employing thousands and producing world-renowned textiles.

Capacity Building Through Local-Global Collaboration

To ensure the success and sustainability of the programme, an international SCORE Master Trainer has already trained eight national trainers in Mongolia. These trainers—drawn from academia, civil society, and industry associations—will work side by side with the Master Trainer over a five-month implementation phase.

Their task is to mentor the five enterprises through a cycle of SCORE training modules, practical workplace exercises, and progress evaluations. The goal is not only to improve productivity, but to instill lasting practices of cooperation, inclusivity, and responsible governance.

Institutional Support and Stakeholder Engagement

The SCORE Programme in Mongolia benefits from broad institutional backing and is implemented in collaboration with:

• Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection

• Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry

• Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association

• Mongolian Industrial Trade Union Federation

This multi-stakeholder approach ensures the alignment of SCORE's implementation with national labor laws, industrial policies, and social development strategies.

Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Director of the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia, emphasized the long-term vision behind this initiative:

“Mongolia’s cashmere industry is a national treasure. Through programmes like SCORE, we can ensure it becomes a global example of how competitive, responsible enterprises can provide decent work and opportunities for the next generation.”

Building a Sustainable Model for Youth Employment

The SCORE Programme aims to address some of the critical challenges facing young workers in Mongolia, including:

• Prevalence of low-quality informal jobs

• Lack of vocational training and career advancement pathways

• Inadequate workplace safety and representation

By integrating productivity goals with social outcomes, SCORE helps build enterprises that are not only economically viable but also ethically sound and socially inclusive.

Moreover, this pilot in Mongolia’s cashmere sector can set the foundation for expanding the programme to other promising industries, ensuring more widespread impact across the SME landscape.

Looking Ahead: Measuring Progress and Scaling Impact

Over the coming months, the five participating companies will implement SCORE tools and strategies. Their progress will be monitored and evaluated, generating critical data to refine the approach for future phases. If successful, the program could be scaled up to include dozens more SMEs, bringing the benefits of decent work, better productivity, and youth inclusion to a much broader segment of Mongolia’s workforce.

The ILO remains committed to supporting this journey through technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and continued partnership with national and international stakeholders.