Cambodia Launches Pilot Program to Send Construction Workers to Vietnam

PHNOM PENH, July 15, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has launched a pilot program to recruit and deploy construction workers to Vietnam, opening a new overseas employment destination as the government seeks to expand legal labour migration opportunities, officials said Tuesday.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said it has authorised Pacific Employment Agent, a licensed recruitment agency, to manage the program, which will place Cambodian workers at SONG DA 5 Joint Stock Company in Vietnam. The initiative follows a request from the Vietnamese employer and coordination with Cambodia’s embassy in Hanoi.

Applicants must be male, aged 23 to 39, with construction experience and physical fitness to work in hot conditions. Preference will be given to candidates with Vietnamese language skills. Workers must also have good moral character, with no record of drug abuse, alcohol addiction or criminal convictions.

The recruitment covers general labourers, welders, skilled construction workers, concrete specialists, heavy machinery operators and civil engineers. Monthly salaries range from 16 million to 35 million dong (US$600–1,330), depending on skill level. Employers will provide round‑trip transport, free accommodation, utilities and cover half of meal costs.

Registration is open immediately at Pacific Employment Agent in Phnom Penh.

The ministry said about 433,600 Cambodian migrant workers were employed abroad in 2025, sending home US$1.86 billion in remittances. Officials added that expanding legal migration channels supports Cambodia’s economy while offering safer opportunities for workers.