Cambodia and Turkey Discuss Enhancing Cooperation on Labor, Skills Development, and Skilled Labor Mobility

Cambodian Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, Heng Sour, met with Turkish Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, on the afternoon of September 23, 2026, in Shanghai, China. The meeting aimed to discuss priority labor sector cooperation, explore possibilities for cooperation in labor mobility and skills development, protect the rights and interests of workers, and determine concrete future actions under the framework of the 4th Cambodia-Turkey Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting. Minister Heng Sour highly appreciated the Turkish counterpart's initiative in organizing this first meeting for such important discussions. He also recalled the 4th Cambodia-Turkey Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting held in Ankara from November 3-4, 2025, which identified labor migration management, skills development and recognition, and social security as areas for cooperation. Furthermore, Minister Heng Sour welcomed the interest of Minister Vedat Işıkhan in establishing cooperation in selecting skilled workers, particularly the interest of employers in mechanical engineering and mechanics. Minister Heng Sour highlighted Cambodia's young workforce and its provision of extensive training opportunities, as well as students who have completed technical and vocational training, possessing potential in manufacturing, mechanics, and related technical fields. The minister emphasized the importance of safe, orderly, and legal selection and dispatch of workers, ensuring transparency in costs, clear contracts, fair wages, accommodation, occupational safety and health, insurance, problem resolution, and repatriation procedures. Both sides engaged in a friendly and productive exchange of views on bilateral cooperation in agricultural product processing, the labor sector, labor mobility, and transparent and safe worker selection mechanisms. They also agreed to explore further possibilities to build and strengthen relations for the benefit of both countries. Additionally, Cambodia and Turkey share many potential areas to further deepen cooperation in the future.