Cambodia launches employment drive to Curb Migration as 2,000 jobs are offered in Banteay Meanchey

Photo: Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour (L) greets returning migrant workers during a provincial job fair in Banteay Meanchey, part of a national initiative to integrate the workforce into the domestic formal economy.AKP

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Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training organised a major job fair in Banteay Meanchey province on Saturday, offering over 2,000 positions in a strategic effort to encourage former migrant workers and local youth to seek employment within the kingdom.

The event, held under the theme “Khmers Helping Khmers Find Jobs,” saw four major industrial enterprises convene at Meanchey Park to conduct on-site interviews. Around 700 job seekers attended the forum, which was designed to bridge the gap between local employers and a workforce that frequently seeks higher-paying, though often precarious, work abroad.

Labour and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour said that the initiative offers immediate employment security while sparing workers from the heavy financial burden of long-distance travel and relocation.

“This is a vital platform for job seekers to meet employers directly, interview, and secure positions on the spot,” the minister said, noting that the participating firms have an immediate requirement for 2,650 additional staff.

Beyond immediate recruitment, the minister said the long-term benefits of formal domestic employment are specifically the National Social Security Fund. He urged former migrant workers to consider the stability of local roles, which offer healthcare and retirement benefits—protections often unavailable to undocumented workers in neighbouring countries.

“While working abroad is an option, it should be reserved for high-wage opportunities,” the minister advised. “Domestic work offers the protection of the NSSF, easing the burden on families during illness or old age.”

The forum also served as a registration hub for the Royal Government’s technical and vocational education and training programme. The initiative aims to upskill 1.5 million citizens to improve national workforce standards.

In his address, Sour described the employment initiative as a matter of national resilience, emphasising that job creation remains a primary government priority to secure economic stability and sovereignty.

“We must remain strong and patient, strengthening our capabilities and solidarity to reclaim our economic excellence,” he said. AKP