Garment workers go about their business at a factory in Phnom Penh . POST STAFF
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training’s skills development roadmap for 2023 to 2035 identifies five strategic pillars, 26 target goals and 27 key indicators that will boost production by transforming the Kingdom’s workforce through lifelong learning opportunities.
The 72-page document, seen by The Post on May 16, outlines the ministry’s vision for contributing to national socio-economic development through a productive workforce.
The roadmap also outlines strategies to meet the needs of the current and future labour market. This includes the provision of lifelong learning opportunities and will ensure that every citizen has at least one vocational skill.
“The roadmap consists of five strategic pillars, a total of 26 goals and 27 key achievements. It is organised into 75 intervention activities. Performance indicators for each intervention have been prepared, and link to the roadmap’s goals and strategic pillars,” according to the document’s summary.
The five strategic pillars are: strengthening the quality of technical and vocational education and training, enhanced recognition and promotion of employees, vocational education and training that responds to the needs of industry, governance and leadership, and financing and sustainability.
Ith Samheng, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, described the roadmap as a strategic document that will guide all of the institutions that are involved in skills development.
“It aims to ensure that every member of the Cambodian workforce reaches their full potential, thus boosting economic growth in the short, medium and long term,” he said.
“In order to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the roadmap, we need to create an effective monitoring and evaluation system. The system will be overseen by the National Training Committee. Annual progress summaries will be submitted to the labour ministry to inform its decision making. We will update our goals, intervention activities and performance indicators every three years, according to the realities of the labour market,” he said.
Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth praised the roadmap, noting that it demonstrates the government’s clear understanding of the importance of skills development that will improve productivity through competency and professional ethics.
He said the government is committed to developing skills by implementing policies that will ensure that Cambodians have decent jobs, thus raising living standards.
“I believe that all relevant ministries and institutions will cooperate with the implementation of this roadmap, which will lead to increased competitiveness and greater productivity. It will also support the Kingdom’s economic diversification, respond to the expectation and needs of the public, and act as a solid foundation for achieving Cambodia’s 2030 and 2050 visions,” he said.
According to the labour ministry, the roadmap is in line with the Cambodia Vision 2030 and 2050, Cambodia’s Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025, the National Employment Policy 2015-2025, the National Technical Vocational Education and Training Policy 2017-2025.
It is also consistent with Strategic Plan for Employment Development and Vocational Training 2019-2023, the National Policy on Lifelong Learning, Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035, and the Roadmap for Cambodian Secondary Education 2030.
