Cambodia Urges Diplomats to Enhance Worker Protection and Seek New Job Markets

Heng Sour, the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, served as a speaker presenting the "Strategy to Boost the Job Market and Protect Cambodian Migrant Workers Abroad" at a capacity-building workshop for senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the morning of July 16, 2026, at the National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations. The aim was to contribute to enhancing new knowledge in the labor sector before they embark on their diplomatic missions at Cambodian diplomatic missions abroad. On this occasion, the Minister emphasized labor migration as a long-standing traditional phenomenon that is continuing to occur in greater numbers, especially in the era of globalization and regional and global economic integration. Labor migration is a driving force and a significant strategy that has contributed to promoting economic-social development, ensuring sustainable economic growth, and developing human resources with higher efficiency and productivity. Furthermore, labor migration is also a form of service trade, a part of economic diplomacy that countries use to expand job markets, develop human resources, promote skill exchange, and increase national economic benefits. The promotion of labor migration depends on international cooperation through economic diplomatic relations and various relevant international legal frameworks, such as the Vienna Conventions, the WTO framework, and ILO standards. Heng Sour highlighted the important role of migrant workers in significantly contributing to economic growth through substantial remittances entering the country. He also affirmed the high attention of the Royal Government towards Cambodian migrant workers abroad by strengthening the implementation of legal documents and mechanisms for selecting, training, and sending migrant workers abroad. Cambodia also has a strong foundation for protecting the rights and interests of migrant workers, including laws, sub-decrees, announcements, national policies, international instruments, Memoranda of Understanding, agreements with international organizations, partners, brand owners, and host countries. The Minister stated that sending Cambodian migrant workers abroad through legal mechanisms not only creates job opportunities, increases income, and improves family livelihoods but also contributes to the transfer of technical skills, work experience, and new knowledge, who then return to participate in developing Cambodia's economy and society by starting their own businesses with their savings. The Minister encouraged all senior officials undertaking diplomatic missions to continue to pay attention to providing protection to Cambodian migrant workers and to increase close cooperation with countries that offer good working conditions and high wages, thereby opening up more job opportunities for Cambodian citizens. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local