Cambodia: Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) announced that a major national initiative to reintegrate Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand has successfully placed over 300,000 individuals into new domestic employment.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the update comes as part of a campaign to absorb a large number of returning nationals into the domestic labour market. The MLVT confirmed that of the approximately 940,000 Cambodian workers who have returned from Thailand since the programme began in June, the Ministry has secured formal jobs for more than 300,000.

In a recent cohort, the Ministry assisted over 300,000 of the nearly 940,000 recently returned workers in finding new employment within the country, according to MLVT data released.

H.E. Sun Mesa, the MLVT Spokesperson, told the State-owned Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) this morning that the majority of those placed have found roles in the industrial sector, with others securing positions in construction, agriculture, or launching small businesses.

“The figure of over 300,000 represents those employed through factories and enterprises formally registered with the Ministry,” H.E. Sun Mesa stated. He added that substantial job opportunities also exist in informal sectors not captured by the official tally.

The spokesperson further clarified that an estimated 700,000 to 750,000 of the total 940,000 returnees are of working age, indicating an ongoing effort to assist the remaining job seekers.

H.E. Sun Mesa reaffirmed that job opportunities are available across all of Cambodia’s provinces and municipality. He urged returning workers to seek assistance through their local authorities or by contacting the Ministry of Labour directly via the hotline, 1297.

He also highlighted the benefits of domestic employment compared to working abroad: “Working in Cambodia is safer, more cost-effective, and offers benefits such as health insurance, pension contributions, and occupational accident compensation, which are comparable to or even better than working abroad.”

The concerted effort by the MLVT underscores the Royal Government’s commitment to strengthening the domestic economy and providing sustainable, protected employment for its returning citizens.