Synopsis: The government scales up its vocational credentialling programme for Cambodian migrant workers and locals, surpassing initial phase benchmarks as thousands secure recognition of their skills.

Cambodia has expanded its free skills-recognition programme to 15 occupations under its second phase, with more than 13,000 former migrant workers returning from Thailand and local residents having undergone assessments to improve their employment prospects and livelihoods.

A total of 13,278 people took Recognition of Prior Learning assessments at 13 centres operated by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training between April and November. Of that total, 12,418 participants received vocational qualification certificates while another 860 obtained credit certification letters.

Sun Mesa, spokesman for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, said the government provides the assessments free of charge to former migrant workers returning from Thailand and local residents who possess practical skills and work experience but lack formal certification.

“Former migrant workers returning from Thailand and local citizens who already possess skills and work experience have been given the opportunity to take assessments free of charge to obtain formal recognition of their skills,” he said.

“This is an effort by the Royal Government, through the Ministry of Labour, to help former migrant workers and citizens gain wider employment options and opportunities to increase their family incomes,” he added.

The programme entered its second phase on October 30 following the completion of the first phase, which saw approximately 10,000 people take the assessments. Mesa said more than 20% of the target for the second phase was achieved within its first 10 days.

The second phase covers 15 occupations, including 13 for former migrant workers returning from Thailand and two for the public. The occupations available to former migrant workers include masonry, tiling, formwork installation, plumbing installation, mortar and concrete mixing and roofing. The two occupations open to the general public are coffee brewing and design and computer graphic design.

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• Tags: Cambodia, migrant workers