Cambodia and South Korea have agreed to increase their cooperation in the fields of employment, vocational training and the protection of Cambodia’s migrant workers.
The Korean side also announced its intention to provide more employment opportunities, thanks to the “excellent” work ethics and honesty of previous Cambodian workers.
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour met with his South Korean counterpart Lee Jung-sik on March 8 in Seoul, according to a March 10 social media post by the labour ministry.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the employment of Cambodian workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), which began in 2006.
“Through this system, the Kingdom’s workers can earn incomes that can support their families. At the same time, they gain experience and skills in key areas that they can use to strengthen and develop Cambodia after they return home,” said Sour.
The minister asked Lee to expand the skilled workers programme and examine the possibility of increasing cooperation between the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and the Korean Workers’ Composition and Welfare Service Unit with the Kingdom’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF), as well as between the Korean Employment Information Service Unit and Cambodia’s National Employment Agency (NEA).
He also proposed additional vocational education and training assistance.
Lee said he would continue to provide employment opportunities to Cambodian workers, as well as cooperation in key areas that will drive positive results for the governments of both nations.
“Lee commended the labour ministry for its cooperation while emphasising that he considered Cambodian workers hard-working and honest. These factors have led to increased employment quotas in 2024,” added the post.
Earlier, Sour met with Lee Cheol-woo, governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do province on March 6. The two sides agreed to cooperate more closely to develop the employment sector, while also strengthening solidarity between the two countries.
According to the Labour Ministry, the governor will examine the possibility of providing equipment for vocational training institutions, the exchange of technology and the provision of fire trucks and ambulances.
Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, noted that Cambodia is no different from other countries that send workers to work in developed countries to earn decent incomes.
He believes that the cooperation between the two governments is a positive thing, adding that it provides opportunities for young Cambodians to learn skills that meet the requirements of the overseas job market.
“Apart from receiving high wages, the workers gain skills and valuable experience. We have seen many cases where Cambodian workers have completed their terms and returned home with the skills to run their businesses, whether in the agriculture sector or some other field,” he said.
He hopes the Cambodian embassy in Seoul will continue to pay close attention to the needs of the workers who are employed there.
According to a January report by the labour ministry, in 2023, a total of 9,778 Cambodians were working in South Korea, 2,719 of them women. – The Phnom Penh Post
