PHNOM PENH – The National Employment Agency(NEA) of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MLVT) and partners organized the National Career and Productivity Fair 2023 in Cambodia from 10 – 11 November to provide a platform for employers, training providers, and job seekers to discuss skills development and employment opportunities while promoting knowledge exchange in entrepreneurship development and productivity. Considering Cambodia’s economic growth trends, this career fair served as a critical avenue to equip job seekers with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an evolving labour market and facilitate a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies for all.
As the largest career fair in the country, the event showcased over 20,000 open vacancies to connect job seekers with labour market opportunities, with the aim of promoting productivity and decent work for all, in alignment with the country’s economic growth trends and emerging skills demands. In addition, the fair featured entrepreneurship and productivity awareness-raising workshops to encourage the sharing of knowledge and good practices among national and international experts in the field.
“In 2023, we are partnering with 150 ministries, companies, education and training establishments, development partners and national and international organizations to showcase over 20,000 job opportunities in various leading sectors such as banking, microfinance and insurance, wholesale and retail services, tourism and hospitality, food and drinks, real estate and construction, telecommunication and information technology, and industry and manufacturing through 188 booths. The National Career and Productivity Fair 2023 was organized in collaboration with the National Employment Agency of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), People in Need Cambodia (PIN) and Swisscontact,” said His Excellency Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Cambodia.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the National Employment Agency of Cambodia to promote decent work and productive employment through the provision of technical support and the organization of events and initiatives designed to foster the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the Cambodian labour market. In the context of Cambodia’s current economic growth trends, the National Career and Productivity Fair 2023 serves as a critical platform to bridge the gap between the skills that job seekers possess and labour market demands by providing them with access to information and guidance on emerging skills and relevant training programs. The fair’s emphasis on accessing productive and decent jobs becomes increasingly relevant, particularly in a fast-evolving labour market, to facilitate a just transition towards climate resilient and inclusive economies, said Oktavianto Pasaribu, Director, ILO Country Office for Thailand, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The ILO contributed by leveraging its extensive expertise in this field and facilitating the sharing of knowledge and good practices among countries facing similar labour market challenges. Furthermore, it consolidated efforts and resources from three projects in this domain: Decent Employment for Youth in Cambodia project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Promoting the Global Development Initiative with a Focus on South-South Cooperation in Employment in ASEAN project, and ILO/China Partnership Programme on Strengthening Skills Development in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar through South-South and Triangular cooperation funded by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China.
This partnership between the ILO and NEA presents a valuable opportunity for the ILO to provide the necessary support to shape public policies aimed at achieving social justice and economic inclusion in the country. See Youth Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion NCPF 2023 here.
***
For media queries, please contact:
Tarinee Youkhaw, Advocacy & Knowledge Management Officer, ILO ProSSCE-ASEAN project at youkhaw@ilo.org