Cambodia will work with the Swedish Embassy on how to promote the labor market, especially for young people, women and the disabled.

A discussion on this was held yesterday between Minister of Labor Ith Samheng and the Swedish Embassy to Cambodia’s First Secretary Magnus Saemundsson at the ministry.

According to the discussion, the Swedish government, the Cambodian government, the UN together with some non-governmental organizations will work together in a project from December 2021 to December 2023 called “Labor market for all people, who support disabled jobseekers.”

Samheng said that the Swedish government has always supported and provided technical skills training that is lacking in the labor market and submitted reports to the National Employment Service (NEA) under the ministry.

He added that NEA has provided a good service to those who lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and in addition they have received PR support from the Swedish government who share experiences and knowledge to NEA officials who also visit the Labor Center in Sweden.

Samheng said that the government also plans to set up work centers in the capital, provinces in addition to a mobile work center.

With regard to unemployed disabled people, he added that there are laws to protect them as well as to provide job opportunities. According to the Disability Act, job opportunities are provided in state institutions and for private sectors to have at least one to two percent disabled people during their employment.

Samheng and Magnus are convinced that their planned projects will create many jobs for the people of Cambodia in institutions and private sectors, especially in the production line.

The Swedish government will help the ministry to establish more labor centers throughout the country in addition to the existing 13 centers and three mobile centers.

In June, Cambodia and Sweden had pledged to work together to achieve the Global Deal Initiative and to work together in all sectors, especially in the field of labor and vocational training.