Cambodia, IMF Discuss Labor Market, Skills for Returning Migrants

PHNOM PENH, Mar. 10, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have discussed expanding the labor market, strengthening skills development, and supporting the reintegration of Cambodian migrant workers returning from Thailand, officials said Monday.

Labour Minister Heng Sour met IMF Resident Representative Jochen M. Schmittmann in Phnom Penh to exchange views on workforce demand and employment prospects. The talks come as Cambodia seeks to bolster labor market resilience and improve skills-matching systems.

Sour highlighted government efforts through the National Employment Agency, which collects job vacancies and shares opportunities via job fairs, social media, and a national hotline. He said job forums have been organized in border provinces to help returnees access employment, social security, and training.

The ministry has expanded Technical and Vocational Education and Training programs to equip returning workers and vulnerable youth with practical skills. Officials also discussed Recognition of Prior Learning assessments to certify skills acquired abroad, particularly in construction.

Schmittmann welcomed Cambodia’s initiatives, noting that reliable labor market data and reintegration information are valuable for IMF assessments.

Nearly 960,000 Cambodian migrant workers have returned from Thailand since last year, with about 630,000 reintegrated into domestic employment, the ministry said.