The Japanese government will offer an opportunity for specialised Cambodian workers to work in Japan through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that might be signed in April, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, Ith Sam Heng said.

After meeting with Japanese ambassador to Cambodia, Hidehisa Horinouchi, Sam Heng on Monday told reporters at the ministry that the Kingdom’s high-skilled workers will have a chance to work in Japan after Tokyo amended its labour regulations, specifying changes on matters related to recruiting, training and importing foreign workers.

“HE Mr Horinouchi came today to officially inform us of the plan to make Japan’s labour market accessible for highly-skilled Cambodian workers in accordance with a recent law amendment in the country,” he said.

Sam Heng said the new framework would enable qualified workers to have a good job, earn a high salary and help Japan meets its labour demands.

He also noted that sending Cambodian officials and specialised workers to Japan would improve cooperation between the two countries.

The two governments, Sam Heng said, are discussing preparations to draft the MoU prior to the tentative start of the programme in April this year.

“H.E. Mr Horinouchi told me that the work will be implemented in April 2019. At this moment, both governments are working on the MoU of the cooperation,” he said.

Kin Phea, the director-general of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, expressed his support for the initiative. He said sending professional workers to Japan could benefit the Kingdom’s economy and the workers themselves.

“It would contribute to the progress of the national economy and improvement of workers’ living standards,” he said.

Labour Ministry spokesperson Heng Sour and the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh could not be reached for additional comment on Monday.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training said some 9,000 Cambodian workers are currently employed in Japan.