Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour has acknowledged the challenges faced by Cambodian workers over the age of 45 in securing jobs in the garment sector, noting that most factories set hiring limits at 40 to 45 years of age.
Sour said recently that the agriculture sector remains more flexible, allowing workers up to the age of 50. He added that the ministry is expanding vocational training programmes to equip older workers with simple skills to sustain livelihoods within their communities.
He also appealed to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to open opportunities for Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand, particularly those aged 40 and above, so they can reintegrate into the domestic labour market.
The minister expressed gratitude to workers currently employed in factories who have helped their relatives and neighbours returning from Thailand to secure local employment. He urged that this spirit of solidarity be further expanded.
Meanwhile, the ministry spokesperson Sun Mesa called on all Cambodians seeking employment to contact the Ministry’s hotline at 1297 or use the QR codes available on its official social media and the National Employment Agency (NEA) platforms to register for job opportunities.
To support returning migrants, the government has rolled out multiple initiatives, including reception centres at six international border checkpoints with Thailand, job forums in local communities, regular job fairs at technical and vocational training institutes and NEA offices nationwide, as well as direct coordination with factories and enterprises. The ministry has also strengthened the 1297 hotline system to facilitate job placement.
According to the ministry, there are nearly 100,000 job vacancies across various sectors, particularly in industries offering decent wages and benefits for both skilled and unskilled workers.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/