Manet lauds ongoing Japanese investment in Kingdom’s interns
PRIME Minister Hun Manet lauded the ongoing and prospective benefits to Cambodia through the collaboration between the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Commerce, facilitating the dispatch of Cambodian interns to work in Japan.
He made the remarks during his December 18 meeting with Kojima Masanobu, CEO of KOJIMA Holdings, a significant manufacturing entity engaging Cambodian trainees in Japan.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo, Japan.
Manet thanked KOJIMA Holdings for its pivotal role in Cambodia’s economic growth, stating their noteworthy investments in the nation.
“In the short term, we’re talking about generating jobs that provide income and alleviate poverty. Looking ahead, it’s about moulding Cambodian interns into a valuable pool of local talent armed with experience and specific skills crucial for our country’s future,” he said.
Masanobu said the company has established a Cambodian business centre in Atsugi, Kanagawa prefecture – a key hub for disseminating trade and investment information about Cambodia – fostering cultural exchanges, human resource training and facilitating business opportunities. He also noted plans for broader investments across Cambodia, particularly in the export-focused agricultural sector.
Accompanying Manet during his Japan visit, Reach Somnang, general director of Axel Asia Human Resources Co and deputy director responsible for Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, said on December 18 that the Cambodian government demonstrates keen interest in interns working not only in Japan but also in other countries.
“[Manet’s] meetings with Cambodian workers and interns in Japan are significant and meaningful for us. It truly reflects our country’s leader’s genuine concern for all our people, whether they’re within or beyond the Kingdom’s borders,” she said.
She added that Cambodians in Japan not only bring in income to support their families back home but also acquire valuable skills and experiences that can be applied to their livelihoods once their contracts in Japan conclude.
In a meeting on December 16 with Cambodians residing in Japan, Manet directed the labour ministry to engage with their partners in exploring ways to lower the expenses associated with sending trainees to Japan. He pointed out that the current costs are high, posing a challenge for some that needs addressing.
“The labour ministry needs to engage with their Japanese counterparts to lower the sending service fee, making it suitable and agreeable for all parties by a minimum of 10 per cent in 2024. While the current fee is comparable to that in neighbouring countries, the ministry should further decrease it to better support our people,” he said.
He also said that the heightened costs primarily result from language training expenses lasting at least six months, fees associated with the Japan Management Association’s services and the expenses related to addressing workers’ issues during settlement.
Sending workers to Japan costs as much as $6,000, while the expense for Thailand, China and Vietnam is about $5,000.
“If we can secure a 10 per cent reduction, our people could save around $400 to $500 each,” Manet said.
On December 15, labour minister Heng Sour met with Otani Kodai, president of the Organisation for Technical Intern Training (OTIT), urging the establishment of a digital platform to facilitate sending and receiving interns and skilled workers to Japan. This move aims to reduce the costs associated with brokerage services. He also explored the possibility of aiding individuals who seek job changes without the need to return to Cambodia after a reasonable work period.
Sour also requested OTIT’s assistance in coordinating with relevant parties to shorten the waiting time for Cambodians who wish to work in Japan. Currently, the wait for a Cambodian worker is four to six months.