On the morning of September 19, the Ministry of Labour brought a job fair straight to the community in Kampot’s Angkor Chey district. Local media reported that the event was organized mainly to help returned workers from Thailand and unemployed local youth find steady employment. Employers brought a total of 2,412 job openings to the venue, drawing nearly 400 residents who dropped by to check out the opportunities.
The lineup of recruiters was quite diverse. It included handbag manufacturers, tire producers, agricultural companies, local banks, and even agencies recruiting workers for Japan. Job seekers were able to register and go through initial interviews right on the spot.
A Labour Ministry official at the scene explained that factories and businesses across Cambodia are currently facing a major labor shortage, with over 90,000 vacant positions nationwide. Setting up job booths right at people’s doorsteps spares locals the hassle and travel expenses of job hunting elsewhere. Working locally provides a regular wage alongside National Social Security Fund benefits, covering medical care, workplace injury compensation, and pensions. Crucially, it allows workers to stay close to their families. The official pointed out that heading to Thailand informally leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination, often with no support if they fall ill.
Besides immediate job openings, the event actively signed up locals for free, flexible vocational training. Options included air-conditioner repair, electrical wiring, baking, barista skills, and beauty or hairdressing. Around local town streets, it is common to see young people riding motorbikes with little to do, and learning a practical trade could help them earn a much better living. Officials also shared hotlines for the public: 1297 for job and training inquiries, and 1286 for social security information.
Chatting with locals over a cup of tea at roadside stalls, the sentiment is clear: as long as people can earn a safe and reliable living at home, nobody really wants to leave their loved ones behind to struggle abroad.
