Nearly 100 public employment services (PES) officials in Cambodia have received training to strengthen their competencies in delivering high-quality, efficient employment services. The initiative aims to create a more responsive and inclusive labor market, ensuring that vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, are not left behind.
The training is a collaboration between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Cambodia’s National Employment Agency (NEA) under the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. It builds on innovative strategies and best practices shared during a 2024 bilateral knowledge exchange with Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower, organized by the ILO ProSSCE-ASEAN project. By adopting a South-South Cooperation approach, the program leverages shared knowledge and regional experiences to improve implementation efficiency.
The program follows a four-tiered design, including an online self-paced course with ILO-adapted modules in Khmer, in-person training of trainers, provincial-level sessions, and thematic webinars aligned with Cambodia’s latest labor market trends. Deputy Director General of NEA, Hang Sereyvorlak, emphasized that the training strengthens the capacity of employment service counselors to support jobseekers and employers, contributing to Cambodia’s inclusive employment goals by 2050.
The initiative builds on over two and a half years of ILO collaboration with NEA, supporting inclusive labor market activities such as career fairs, study visits, capacity-building workshops, and other tailored programs. ILO Project Manager Sheng Ling noted that the four-tiered training is not only an investment in skills and knowledge but also in the future of Cambodia’s workforce.
Participants, such as Mr. Keu Chhieng, Chief of Pursat Job Centre, highlighted that the training enhances both technical and interpersonal skills, enabling them to provide more inclusive, efficient, and client-centered services. The training is supported by two ILO development cooperation projects: the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia project phase 3 (funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and the ProSSCE-ASEAN project (funded by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security), reinforcing Cambodia’s efforts to strengthen human capital and promote inclusive growth under the Pentagonal Strategy Phase 1.
