Cambodia re-skills unemployed and furloughed workers
- Claire Lee
About 6,500 Cambodian workers who were on furlough or lost their jobs due to the pandemic have attended a four-month special training course, while 68,000 factory workers have completed their soft skills training, said Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng during a Facebook live stream on June 15.
The 6,500 workers received special training and were granted a dedicated technical and vocational certificate upon completion, and received a stipend of 200,000 riel (US$50) per month during their study period, he said.
In end-2020, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training unveiled a five-year masterplan for the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions from 2021 to 2025, with a budget of US$493 million.
“The four strategies are: building and improving the physical infrastructure at TVET institutions; improving equipment and training materials; strengthening the capacity of leaders, managers, specialty officials and technicians; and increasing the quantity and quality of technical and professional skills in a gender-inclusive manner,” he said.
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“If workers know other skills besides working in a factory, it is much better because they can earn a living when the factory is closed or their employment is terminated,” said the minister.
