The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has announced cooperation with three companies to provide nearly 400 job opportunities for the country’s youth, organised into a monthly job interview programme set to begin on February 17.

A post on the ministry’s Facebook page named the participating firms as Manulife Insurance Company, Vital Company and ABA Bank.

According to the ministry, the programme is part of a government initiative to establish forums for providing opportunities to the general public. Youth seeking employment or internships and others looking to change jobs can access opportunities and save time by utilising the resource centre.

“Students and job seekers should prepare a CV to submit and select a position for which to apply and interview in person with the company on the designated day from 8am to 5pm at the Phnom Penh Job Centre located at the ministry,” it wrote.

Chhom Sokhoeun, a Job Centre official facilitating the event, said the monthly job interviews could contribute significantly to meeting the recruitment needs of employers now and in the future, connecting them face to face with active job seekers.

“For those who want to find a job or want to change their work, just bring your CV and prepare properly for a personal interview with representatives of the big companies on the day of the programme,” he said.

Sokhoeun noted that the programme was being organised in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines to ensure the safety and confidence of recruiters and job seekers.

Centre for Alliance of Labour and Human Rights (CENTRAL) executive director Moeun Tola applauded the recruitment of such a large number of people, adding that the labour ministry was fulfilling its obligations to the public by creating access to employment opportunities and spreading related information.

Tola was sceptical, however, whether the interviews would really translate into new jobs because it seemed that recently many citizens, including those working in the banking sector, were already facing unemployment.

“I cannot be sure whether such a large recruitment will actually happen or not until there is research to clearly track results. What I do know is that there have been complaints from workers in the microfinance industry because some institutions are looking to lay off employees, not recruit,” he said.

Tola remained hopeful that the announcement would lead to real job opportunities and choices for the public, especially young people looking for work in the context of the economic crisis wrought during the Covid-19 pandemic.