Local media say Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training brought a job fair, social protection and skills training event to Angkor Chey district in Kampot province on Saturday, with 2,412 vacancies on offer.
Instead of travelling elsewhere to look for work, people could register on the spot and even go straight into interviews, saving both transport costs and time.
Nearly 400 residents attended the event, which carried the message of “Khmer helping Khmer find jobs and giving jobs to Khmer.” Officials said there are still more than 90,000 local job openings nationwide across businesses, companies and factories in Cambodia. By bringing vacancies directly into the community, the aim is also to lift local employment and incomes.
The jobs on offer were not just about wages. They also came with coverage under the National Social Security Fund. Officials said that includes protection for work accidents, medical care and pensions. For many people, working inside the country also means staying closer to home, so they can still look after children or elderly family members when needed. For many job seekers here, the first things they count are travel costs, food expenses and whether they can come home to sleep every night.
The event also focused on two groups: workers returning from Thailand and young people looking for jobs. An official said Cambodians working in Thailand may face safety risks, exploitation, no health coverage, violence and discrimination, while also having to stay away from their families for long periods. For those who still want to work overseas, the ministry encouraged them to go through legal channels for better protection.
At the same time, returnee workers and young job seekers can also sign up for free technical training under the “TVET 1.5M” programme. The courses are flexible and practical, covering areas such as construction, refrigeration and air-conditioning repair, electrical work, baking, barista skills and beauty services. After training, some may start a small business of their own, while others may move into better-paying work. On local streets, these kinds of hands-on skills often matter more than empty promises.
The 2,412 openings came from several factories, agricultural companies, a bank’s Kampot provincial branch, and a manpower agency recruiting workers for jobs in Japan. For people living in the district, having the recruitment drive brought to their doorstep was clearly more useful than riding around in the heat and motorbike fumes from place to place just to try their luck.
