The labour ministry has reported that as many as 400,000 Cambodian migrant workers have returned from Thailand since the current border crisis erupted. - FN
PHNOM PENH: Around 3,000 migrant workers and youth have been connected with jobs in Battambang province amid an influx of returning Cambodian migrant workers from Thailand following the armed clashes along Cambodia-Thai border.
The connection was made at a provincial employment forum, organised by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training’s National Employment Agency (NEA), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Battambang on July 25.
The conference aimed to share information on recruitment and training opportunities, internships, volunteer programmes and scholarships that are currently on offer across various sectors, ranging from tourism, food-processing and automotive manufacturing.
“The forum represented a timely and strategic initiative aimed at addressing current labour market needs, with a particular focus on youth, jobseekers, persons with disabilities, returning migrant workers and other vulnerable groups,” explained Hang Sereyvorlak, NEA deputy director-general, in a joint press release.
She added that NEA values the collaboration and support of all stakeholders, particularly the ILO and UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), whose contributions were instrumental in the successful organisation of the important employment event.
With an influx of returning Cambodian migrant workers and young people entering the workforce, it is timelier than ever to ensure that they have access to decent employment opportunities and social security benefits for a seamless integration into the economy.
According to the General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Battambang province ranks as the fifth most populous province, with a total population of 997,169 — accounting for 6.4 per cent of the population.
The province also demonstrates a robust labour force participation rate, with 76 per cent of individuals aged 15 and above actively engaged in the workforce. Because of its demographic advantages, Battambang has a strong economy supported by 49,748 businesses, employing approximately 121,845 individuals.
Its economic strength stems mainly from various industries such as services, agricultural processing and manufacturing, according to the Socio-Economic Census of Cambodia 2022.
Additionally, Battambang stands out not only for its numerous enterprises and diverse workforce potential but also for its important role in aiding the government with job placement and the effective reintegration of returning migrants into the local labour market.
The forum served as a unique platform for over 1,000 attendees to interact with well-known domestic and international companies, institutions and training providers to learn about employment prospects and what capacity building initiatives are available in the market.
“We are honoured by the continuous partnership with the labour ministry to effectively match young jobseekers, vulnerable groups, including women and persons with disabilities as well as returning migrants in Battambang, to the fast-evolving labour market demands,” said Xiaoyan Qian, director of the ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
She noted that despite comprising two-thirds of the population, young people under the age of 30 still struggle with limited access to high-paying jobs.
“Our collective efforts to advance decent work and social protection for all can address these pressing issues and contribute to Cambodia’s national priorities outlined in phase one of the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy and the National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP) 2024–2028,” she added.
Labour minister Heng Sour recently warned that the border dispute and the violence against Cambodian workers have forced more than 400,000 workers to return to Cambodia.
“The next two to three weeks is the time for all actors in society to go to all localities where there are workers to bring information and job opportunities to distribute to them to ensure that they have jobs,” he said.
The ministry claimed that there are over 250,000 job opportunities available for the Cambodian citizens returning from Thailand. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
