Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Cambodia (Ratification: 1971)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. Consultations with social partners. The Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided by the government on the progress achieved in the implementation of the HYPERLINK "https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Employment-Policy-2015-2025-of-the-Royal-Government-of-Cambodia.pdf" National Employment Policy 2015-2025 (NEP). The Committee nevertheless notes that the Government does not provide a copy of the NEP progress reports to which it refers. In this respect, it notes the indication of the Government that, according to the NEP progress report for 2018, the review of the implementation of the National Employment Policy by relevant ministries and institutions demonstrates that the Government has taken the right path to achieving the three main goals of the NEP by 2025. In this regard, the Government refers to progress made in increasing decent and productive employment opportunities (Goal 1), enhancing skills and human resource development (Goal 2) and enhancing labour market governance (Goal 3). The Committee notes various measures taken by the Government for the implementation of these goals. In particular, it notes that, in accordance with the objectives of Goal 1 of the NEP, measures have been taken for sustaining national macroeconomic stability and promoting Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs). With regard to employment, the Government indicates that ministries and institutions have strengthened the effectiveness and extended the scope of job placement services by creating three new job centres as well as mobile job centres (the total number of job centres increased to 13) and by organizing career fairs, mobile career fairs, and career forums. In addition, the Government refers to other measures being implemented by ministries and institutions to improve working conditions (the healthcare scheme, the social security scheme, the allowance allocation programme for post-natal workers) and strengthen existing mechanisms (the grievance mechanism for migrant workers and the enhancement of labour inspection). The Committee notes that the Government has also expanded its labour market overseas (Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea), taken measures to enhance the capacity of technical officers (at both the central and provincial levels), private recruitment agencies and relevant stakeholders to familiarise them concerning laws, relevant regulations, and procedures on managing migrant workers and providing overseas employment services. With regard to foreign labour management, the Government indicates that it has strengthened the implementation of the Labour Law, Immigration Law, and other regulations concerning the management of foreign labour in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Government further refers to regular labour inspections conducted in this regard in enterprises and establishments. Regarding the impact of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for 2019–2023, the Government indicates that more women, men, youth, and disadvantaged groups in Cambodia have access to decent and productive work as a result of increased economic diversification, productivity, competitiveness, and development of the digital economy. The Committee notes that public employment services expanded to serve 6,000 rural young job seekers. The Government indicates that, overall, 18 656 job seekers (10 491 women and 36 persons with disabilities) registered with the National Employment Agency (NEA) in 2019, of which 7 126 were young workers (3 875 women and 9 persons with disabilities). With regard to the participation of the social partners, the Government indicates that the implementation of the DWCP has improved social dialogue, industrial relations, and rights at work in line with international labour standards, including for migrant workers. It further indicates that 150 union leaders participated in and contributed to the policy and legislative processes (labour migration policy, new social security law, amendments to the trade union law and labour law, and implementing regulations) as well as pension scheme development. The Committee notes that a tripartite mechanism has been created to negotiate and determine the minimum wage in the textile, garment, and footwear industry and to examine social and economic causes and impacts that the increase to the minimum wage had on the welfare and labour productivity of workers in the garment sector in Cambodia in 2018. The Committee further notes that the Government does not provide recent information onbudgetary resources. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the nature, scope and impact of specific measures undertaken within the framework of the National Employment Policy 2015-2025 and the Decent Work Country Programme 2019–2023 with the objective of creating opportunities for decent, productive, and sustainable employment. The Committee once again invites the Government to provide information on the steps taken to build the requisite capacity and allocate the budgetary resources necessary to ensure the successful implementation of the NEP. The Government is also requested to communicate a copy of the most recent NEP progress report.

Article 2. Labour market statistics and information. The Committee notes the statistics provided by the Government on employment and unemployment rates by age group in Cambodia in 2019. The Government indicates that, according to the 2019 census, the employment rate of workers aged 65 and over was 96.2 per cent, for both men and women. The Committee notes that, in 2019, the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and over was 1.3 per cent, while the unemployment rate for men stood at 1.2 per cent and women’s unemployment was 1.5 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide up-to-date information, including statistical data disaggregated by sex and age, on employment trends, including on employment, unemployment, and visible underemployment in Cambodia.

Education and training policies. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the composition and activities of the National Training Board (NTB), which is responsible for monitoring and evaluating Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). The Government indicates that twelve standard training kits and eight competency-based training kits were adopted. It adds that ministries and institutions have taken measures to ensure the compliance of technical and vocational education and training institutions with quality standards and have provided a skill-bridging programme to 2,521 school dropouts to enable them to enrol in technical vocational education and training systems. With regard to education and career orientation, the Government refers to various measures implemented with the aim of enhancing skills and human resources development, including career orientation programs which were introduced in eight schools in Phnom Penh and other provinces, and the development of soft skills in technical vocational education and training programs for trainees in formal and informal education. The Committee notes that, in 2019, 651 trainees (30 per cent women) completed the new standard training in four occupations (machining, arc welding, fruit and vegetable processing, and baking), 300 workers in the hotel service applied for recognition of prior learning (RPL), 690 students (58 per cent young women) in 25 schools completed the ILO’s Know About Business (KAB) training modules on entrepreneurship, and 8,327 people (50 per cent women and 80 per cent youth) accessed entrepreneurship and enterprise development training in 2019, out of which 15 participants (73 per cent women) established new businesses. The Committee further notes that measures have been taken to increase the accessibility of education and TVET schemes to disadvantaged groups (including school dropouts, persons living below the poverty line, orphans, persons with disabilities and others). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to promote education and training for the population in terms of the access of beneficiaries to lasting employment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities and their impact, if any.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that the NEA has taken various measures to promote the quality and efficiency of employment service delivery and labour market information. The Government indicates that, under the Decent Employment for Youth (DEY) in Cambodia Phase-II (2020-2023) of the United Nations Joint Program, the NEA has implemented projects, such as “Provide Training of Trainers” on career guidance and career counselling services. As part of post-COVID recovery, the NEA has also conducted a rapid assessment of emerging needs for workers in terms of skills and expanded career counselling, pre-employment training, and services to in-school and out-of-school youth. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of measures taken or contemplated to promote decent, productive, and sustainable employment for young persons, particularly for those belonging to disadvantaged groups (women, persons with disabilities and unskilled young people), and young persons working in agriculture or the informal economy. The Committee also requests the Government to provide up-to-date, detailed information on the impact of these measures on full employment for young persons, in particular out-of-school youth. The Committee further requests the Government to provide statistical data, disaggregated by age, sex, and economic sector, on trends in employment, unemployment, and underemployment for young persons.

Regional and rural development. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on regional cooperation in vocational training and higher education, and on the Action plan for supporting vocational education and training for students from Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. In particular, it notes that 38 students have been sent to study in Vietnam from 2016 to 2020. With regard to rural development, the Government indicates that, to ensure successful implementation of the NEP at both national and provincial levels, the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Leading, Monitoring, and Evaluating the Implementation of the NEP at the national level has fostered the establishment of Provincial Committees in every province. The Committee notes that, in 2020, capacity-building workshops were conducted for the Provincial Committees in several provinces, such as Kompong Speu, Siern Reap, Kompong Cham, Svay Rieng, and Kratie. It further notes that 229 persons have participated in these workshops to date. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated, detailed information on the nature and impact of the activities of the Provincial Committees for leading, monitoring, and evaluating the implementation of the NEP at the provincial level.