On 4-6 March 2026, senior officials of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, together with representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation and UNIDO, conducted site visits to beneficiary small and medium enterprises under the Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Phase III (DEY III) programme in Battambang and Kampong Thom provinces.
During the visit, H.E. Hem Sothearoth, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, urged relevant stakeholders in the DEY III programme to continue supporting SMEs in order to help expand domestic employment opportunities for Cambodian youth and former migrant workers returning from Thailand.
Background
The DEY III programme was described in the ministry’s update as an initiative aimed at supporting and developing SMEs while also helping young people in Cambodia obtain jobs and better working conditions through those enterprises.
The ministry stated that strengthening employment creation in SMEs is important for generating local job opportunities, particularly for youth and returning migrant workers.
Scope of Application
The reported activity covered SME beneficiaries of the DEY III programme in two provinces: Battambang and Kampong Thom.
According to the ministry, the delegation visited three SMEs in Battambang and two SMEs in Kampong Thom. The update presents these enterprises as programme beneficiaries receiving support linked to business development and employment generation.
Key Provisions or Decisions
No new regulation or binding legal instrument was announced in the update. The ministry report documents an official policy-level encouragement by MLVT leadership for stakeholders involved in DEY III to continue assistance to SMEs.
The ministry said discussions during the visits covered programme-supported activities that had enabled enterprise owners to receive training to strengthen entrepreneurship, including efficient resource use, strengthening food and product safety standards, and applying higher hygiene practices.
The reported outcomes of this support included improved production capacity, better product quality, and stronger market recognition. The ministry also noted that the SMEs visited had created employment opportunities for local residents, especially women, youth, and former migrant workers returning from Thailand.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
For businesses and development stakeholders, the update indicates continued government support for SME-based employment generation through the DEY III framework. It also highlights the practical areas of enterprise support being emphasized, including productivity improvement, safety and quality standards, and hygiene practices.
For researchers and policy users, the item serves as a record of MLVT’s labor-governance role in linking youth employment objectives with SME support and reintegration opportunities for returning migrant workers. The post does not announce any new compliance obligation, enforcement measure, or formal incentive regime.
Official Source
Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT), Facebook post published on 9 March 2026, reporting on official visits conducted on 4-6 March 2026 in Battambang and Kampong Thom under the DEY III programme.
