Ministry calls for enhanced Chinese TVET collaboration

MINISTER of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour has urged Chinese construction firms to collaborate with the ministry in enhancing technical and vocational training (TVET) capacity in the construction and machinery sectors.

The industries are crucial for poor and vulnerable youth, and the government is currently running programmes in which over 26,000 are enrolled.

The minister emphasised the importance of the initiative during a recent meeting with Cai Dianwei, managing director of China’s Hunan Construction Investment Group, as reported by the ministry on January 24.

Sour highlighted the need to improve the quality and capacity of technical training for approximately 1.5 million disadvantaged households, aligning with the national goal set by the government’s seventh mandate.

He suggested that the Chinese private sector, including firms like the investment group, could participate in training initiatives in Cambodia’s construction and machinery sectors.

“For the vocational training programme to be more effective, enhancing the curriculum and instruction of trainers is essential. The labour ministry requires the involvement of partners in the effort,” he stated.

Sour also assured the Chinese company of the ministry’s readiness to assist in any investment or co-investment ventures in Cambodia.

Cai agreed with Sour on the significance of vocational instruction for national development.

He also noted progress in various other Cambodian sectors, such as road infrastructure, which he believes are key to attracting foreign investment.

Kata Orn, secretary of state and spokesperson for the ministry, reported that by the end of January, more than 26,000 young people had participated in training across 673 foundational classes.

“The courses are brief, lasting only four months, enabling young people, especially those from poor and vulnerable backgrounds, to acquire concrete skills. They receive free training and a monthly allowance of 280,000 riel [$68.63]. General youth also participate for free but do not receive an allowance,” he explained.

He said the ministry is actively seeking cooperation from the private sector and private institutions to launch additional training courses, including collaboration with companies to provide internships for trainees.

To date, the ministry has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and 17 employer associations, representing over 7,000 member companies, factories and enterprises.

Orn said the entities are prepared to offer internships to trainees after their four-month learning period.

Yong Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace (PDP-Centre), supported strengthening ties between the ministry and the private sector, including Chinese companies.

He believes that professional training provided by companies from any country is beneficial for equipping young Cambodians with tangible skills and income opportunities, which can help alleviate poverty.

“The construction and machinery sectors are important. We need to train our workforce to become highly skilled workers at the engineer level, not just low-level workers for Chinese companies,” he stated, regarding collaboration with Chinese firms in construction.

Kim Eng added that the private sector plays a vital role in supporting the government’s vocational training efforts and in the broader process of nationbuilding and socio-economic development, which requires mutual collaboration.

He also expressed a desire for greater cooperation between the government and civil society organisations (CSOs) in implementing policies, including those related to vocational training plans.