Employment forum provides one-stop service for returned Cambodian migrant workers with jobs, skills and social protection

Employment forum provides one-stop service for returned Cambodian migrant workers with jobs, skills and social protection

Employment forum offers 1,000 job opportunities and provides career guidance, training opportunities and labour market information to migrant returnees, particularly women and youth jobseekers.

11 August 2026

BATTAMBANG, Cambodia - The National Employment Agency (NEA), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), organized an Employment Forum in Battambang Province on 11 August 2026 to connect returned migrant workers and youth jobseekers with employment opportunities, skills development programmes, labour market information and social protection services.

The forum brought together 400 participants from Battambang and Pursat provinces to support the sustainable reintegration of returned migrant workers, particular women, into Cambodia's labour market. Participants explored job opportunities and accessed information on skills, training, labour rights, safe migration and social protection. The event featured direct job matching and on-site interviews with employers from key sectors including construction, manufacturing, food processing and hospitality.

In recent months, the Government of Cambodia, particularly the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and NEA, has accelerated efforts to support returned migrant workers through skills recognition, reskilling and upskilling training programmes and jobs matching services. Under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) initiative for returnees launched on 24 April 2026, 10,000 returnees, including women, have had skills acquired overseas formally assessed and certified in line with national standards, improving their employability and access to decent work opportunities.

Her Excellency Ouch Cheachanmolika, Director-General of the National Employment Agency, expressed appreciation for the partnership with the ILO and reaffirmed NEA's commitment to supporting returned migrant workers.

"Today's forum serves as an integrated platform linking job seekers with employers while also promoting access to government-supported skills recognition and training programmes. It reflects our shared commitment to helping returnees, especially women, transition into productive employment and rebuild their livelihoods with dignity."

This employment forum is part of NEA's Migrant Worker Resource Centre (MRC) services, which brings employment support closer to communities and strengthens direct links between returned migrant workers and the domestic labour market.

Xiaoyan Qian, Director of ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for East and South-East Asia and the Pacific and Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People's Democratic Republic, emphasized the importance of inclusive labour market reintegration:

"Through skills recognition, skills development, employment services and access to social protection, we can help ensure that returnees - especially women migrant workers - and young jobseekers are able to secure productive employment and contribute to local economic development."

For many participants, the forum represents an opportunity to translate work experience gained abroad into sustainable employment at home.

Kan Chek, a female returned migrant worker and RPL certificate holder who previously worked in Thailand, shared her experience:

"Working in Thailand helped me gain practical skills, but when I returned home I was worried about finding a suitable job because I did not have formal certification. Through the RPL assessment, my skills were officially recognized, giving me greater confidence to show employers what I have learned and what I am able to do. Today, I have the chance to meet employers directly, learn about job opportunities and better understand support services available to returned migrant workers. I hope there will be more opportunities for women like me to use our skills and earn a stable income for our families "

The Employment Forum also highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, employers, training providers and development partners in addressing skills mismatch and improving labour market outcomes. Through the participation of NEA, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, RPL assessment centres, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), private sector employers and business associations, the event demonstrated a coordinated approach to contribute to stronger communities, more resilient livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.

The ILO's support for the forum is provided through the EU-funded Protection of the Rights of Women and Children in Labour Migration (PROTECT) project and the SDC-funded Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia Phase III (DEY III) programme.