Cambodia Labour Minister Sets 19 Priorities for 2026

PHNOM PENH, March 2, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s labour minister has outlined 19 priority measures for 2026 aimed at boosting job creation, strengthening social security and expanding vocational training, officials said Monday.

Speaking at the close of a two-day annual conference, Heng Sour said employment would remain the ministry’s central focus. He noted that about 80,000 vacancies are currently available, particularly for workers returning from Thailand.

In 2025, the ministry oversaw the return of some 950,000 migrant workers, of whom around 310,000 secured formal jobs in enterprises and factories, while another 310,000 entered informal work.

Sour said the figures reflected efforts to integrate returning workers into the domestic labour market under Prime Minister Hun Manet’s guidance.

The minister said the 19 measures include expanding employment services, strengthening labour migration governance, improving occupational safety, eliminating child labour, enhancing dispute resolution and broadening social security coverage.

He also pledged to promote skills training under the government’s “TVET 1.5M” programme and finalise new national employment and vocational training policies.