Cambodia earmarks government jobs for youth

The incoming government of Cambodia is looking to start with a clean slate, and bring the country's youth into the fold.
By: | September 7, 2018

Cambodia’s agenda to create human capital for the future includes hiring the country’s youth for jobs in the government.

The move is also part of the new government’s efforts to empower its youth and groom them as potential administrators and leaders.

With two-thirds of its 14 million people under the age of 30, Cambodia has one of the largest percentages of young population in Southeast Asia.

Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan said the country’s talent pool is immense and the government plans to capitalise on it. Young government workers will replace existing government workers who have been asked to resign by the newly-elected administration.

Eysan said the youth will be offered jobs at various ministries once the new government starts functioning officially.

Critics, however, say this will not really help push the country’s development agenda because the new youth that the government wants to hire are likely to be relatives of politicians.