PM Highlights Labor Reforms and Workforce Development to Drive Inclusive Growth

PHNOM PENH, April 26, 2026 (KPT) — Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet has placed labor reform and workforce development at the center of Cambodia’s inclusive growth strategy, marking the 140th anniversary of International Workers’ Day with a call to strengthen protections and expand opportunities.

Speaking to more than 5,000 union leaders, informal workers and associations at Koh Pich Convention Center, Hun Manet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting “decent work” by improving job quality and worker safeguards.

He highlighted progress in expanding employment opportunities, enforcing labor law and strengthening dispute resolution systems, noting that nearly 98 percent of disputes are now settled through official mechanisms.

Cambodia’s formal workforce has reached about 2.3 million, while social protection coverage continues to grow, with 3.64 million people enrolled in health insurance schemes. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of skills development, pointing to more than 200,000 people who received technical and vocational training in 2025, alongside new education pathways designed to better align youth skills with market demand.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said Cambodia’s resilience amid global uncertainties was supported by diversification, foreign investment and sound macroeconomic management. He credited the country’s stability to long standing peace, built on the legacy of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, which has enabled sustained growth and reform.

The government reaffirmed its focus on strengthening labor protections and investing in human capital to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth, positioning Cambodia as a reform driven economy with a workforce prepared for future challenges.