The ILO’s SKILLS-AP programme and the Department for Human Resource Development Services of Korea (HRD Korea), as a part of a long-standing partnership, initiated in 2006 a project on recognizing the newly acquired skills of migrant workers.

ILO assistance to member States on skills standards included national and regional training workshops from 2006 to 2008, which resulted in the development and endorsement of the Regional Model Competency Standards (RMCS) for different sectors as a guide for skills assessment and recognition at the national level and for the Asia–Pacific region.