AKP Phnom Penh, March 10, 2026 --

H.E. Heng Sour, Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, received a courtesy call here on Mar. 9 from Mr. Jochen M. Schmittmann, IMF Resident Representative for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, along with his colleagues, to discuss expanding the labour market and skills development.

The meeting aimed to provide updates and exchange views on labour force situation, skills development, and the reintegration of migrant workers returning from Thailand.

In the meeting, H.E. Heng Sour expressed his appreciation for the IMF's ongoing constructive dialogue with Cambodia. He highly valued the discussion, which covered the current status of the labour market, skill demands, and labour force trends, as well as future outlooks for returning workers.

H.E. Heng Sour emphasised the discussion was timely and important as Cambodia continues to strengthen labour market resilience and improve the efficiency of skills development and job-matching systems. 

The meeting also touched upon the reintegration of workers returning from Thailand, seeking ways to ensure their skills are effectively utilised within the domestic market to support national productivity.

For his part, Mr. Jochen M. Schmittmann praised the Ministry’s proactive initiatives, on skill development programs and job vacancy platforms.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the IMF reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a exchange of data and strategies to ensure the sustainable growth of Cambodia's workforce.

By Phal Sophanith