Cambodia and Türkiye Eye Skilled Labor Mobility and Technical Training Partnership

AKP Phnom Penh, September 25, 2026 -- Cambodia and Türkiye have discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in labour affairs, skill development, and skilled labour mobility during a high-level ministerial meeting. Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training H.E. Heng Sour met with Türkiye’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, H.E. Dr. Vedat Isikhan, on Sept. 23 afternoon, on the sidelines of an event in Shanghai, China. The discussions focused on strategic labour priorities, exploring mechanisms for labour mobility and skills development tailored to market demands, and protecting the rights and welfare of migrant workers. The meeting built upon actionable commitments established during the 4th session of the Cambodia-Türkiye Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held in Ankara in November 2025, which identified labour migration management, skill recognition, and social security as key areas of mutual interest. H.E. Heng Sour commended the Turkish side for initiating the talks and welcomed Ankara's interest in recruiting skilled Cambodian workers, particularly in technical fields such as mechanical engineering. He highlighted Cambodia’s young workforce and robust Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) infrastructure, emphasising the country's readiness to supply qualified personnel for manufacturing and engineering sectors. To ensure ethical recruitment, the Cambodian Minister stressed the necessity of safe, orderly, and legal migration channels. He called for transparent cost structures, binding contracts, fair compensation, safe living conditions, occupational health standards, comprehensive insurance coverage, and reliable repatriation frameworks. Both Ministers agreed to maintain close dialogue to formalise bilateral mechanisms, strengthen cooperation in agro-processing and labour recruitment, and explore further avenues for potential sectoral partnerships. By K. Rithy Reak