Labour Ministry Consults on Enterprise Qualifications to Recognise Workers’ Skills

PHNOM PENH — H.E. Mrs. Sovann Vannaroth, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, presided over the opening of a consultation workshop at Himawari Hotel on the morning of September 2, 2026. The workshop considered a draft Prakas on determining the qualifications of enterprises, companies and factories to recognise the skills of workers, employees and staff. It sought feedback to make the procedures clearer and responsive to actual labour market needs. Representatives of ministries, relevant institutions, chambers of commerce, employers’ federations, business associations, the private sector, and national and international development partners attended. Sovann Vannaroth said the workshop was more than a forum for discussing technical documents: it was an important step in continuing to reform human resource development and building a qualifications system trusted by economic sectors and the labour market. She said digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and the transition to a green economy required Cambodia to develop a skills system that could respond promptly. The emphasis needed to shift from the number of people trained to their actual competencies and learning outcomes. She also highlighted Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), through which existing skills are assessed and recognised against national standards. This mechanism would help workers gain recognition of their actual abilities, enable enterprises to identify workforce capabilities more clearly, and help Cambodia build a genuinely skilled workforce. Sovann Vannaroth said the ministry had prepared draft standard operating procedures (SOPs) to implement the Prakas on determining enterprise, company and factory qualifications. The aim was to ensure that competency assessments followed standards, were transparent and produced qualifications recognised by the private sector. The ministry would continue to strengthen recognition of competencies and qualifications, connect education and training with the labour market, enhance the private sector’s role, and improve the system’s quality and credibility. It would also promote digital technology in management, registration, assessment and service delivery, while fostering lifelong learning. Its vision was a standards-based skills development system with a competitive workforce, linking people, skills, jobs, productivity and economic growth. She encouraged participants to discuss the issues actively and contribute valuable feedback to make the draft SOPs more comprehensive and effective in practice. By ស្រីពី