Background
On 15 May 2023, the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Ith Samheng, received Petr Gandalovic, Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Martin Vávra, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cambodia, at the ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh. The meeting focused on the results of five years of cooperation between Cambodia and the Czech Republic from 2018 to 2023 in the field of labour and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and on setting priority directions for the subsequent five-year period starting in 2024.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the Czech Republic’s efforts to strengthen and provide effective cooperation in the labour sector, particularly in TVET and in support to the National Employment Agency.
Scope of Application
The cooperation discussed covers human resource development in Cambodia, with an emphasis on technical and vocational education and training relevant to labour market needs. It involves collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and Czech governmental counterparts, as well as coordination with Czech non-governmental actors such as People in Need (PIN), which has been active in Cambodia since 2008 implementing humanitarian assistance, long-term development projects and education programmes.
Key Provisions or Decisions
During the meeting, the Czech side committed to further expand cooperation with Cambodia in building highly capable and professionally skilled human resources to respond to labour market demands in the context of economic and technological development. The discussions reviewed outcomes of the 2018–2023 cooperation period and identified priority orientations for the next five-year phase starting in 2024, with particular emphasis on continued support to TVET.
The Minister highlighted Cambodia’s rapidly developing socio-economic situation and the resulting need to focus on skills training that matches future labour market requirements. He noted that the Royal Government of Cambodia has introduced a skills development policy targeting approximately 1.5 million young people from poor families, equivalent to about 15% of the total labour force, through the provision of specialised training courses, and indicated that this programme is a high priority for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The reaffirmed and expanded cooperation between Cambodia and the Czech Republic in TVET is intended to support the development of a more skilled workforce aligned with labour market requirements. Over time, this may contribute to improved availability of technically trained workers and to enhanced support from the National Employment Agency. Businesses operating in Cambodia, particularly in sectors requiring technical skills, may benefit from the strengthening of TVET programmes and targeted skills development for youth from poor households.
Official Source
The information is based on an announcement by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) published on its official Facebook page on 15 May 2023.
