KUALA LUMPUR - More than 5,000 job opportunities were offered to returning migrant workers from Thailand and local residents on Thursday as the Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training held a large-scale job forum in Moung Ruessei district, Battambang province.

The 579th Labour, Social Security and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Forum, held at Kokoh Secondary School, brought together six major companies, which conducted on-the-spot interviews and immediately recruited workers, Khmer Times reported.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Heng Sour said the job forum has become an effective platform for linking job seekers with employers, noting that nearly 151,000 people have participated in similar forums to date.

He said the ministry would continue organising job forums nationwide throughout 2026 to expand access to employment.

According to the minister, Cambodia currently has 89,539 domestic job vacancies, creating increasing opportunities for workers to earn a living at home rather than seeking work overseas.

Heng Sour highlighted the difficulties faced by Cambodian workers in Thailand, including discrimination, safety risks, limited health protection and prolonged family separation.

He encouraged returning migrant workers to consider local employment, saying jobs in Cambodia provide stronger family stability and comprehensive social protection through the National Social Security Fund, including free medical treatment, pension benefits and maternity support.

In line with Prime Minister Hun Manet’s policy direction, the minister also urged young people to enrol in technical and vocational education under the TVET 1.5 million programme.

He added that from February 2026, the ministry will offer free Recognition of Prior Learning assessments for experienced returning migrant workers, enabling them to obtain officially recognised certificates in eight construction-related skills.

For those still seeking overseas employment, Heng Sour said the government continues to open pathways to high-standard labour markets such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore to ensure better working conditions and higher incomes.

He called on workers to place their trust in the government’s leadership and remain united in strengthening household livelihoods and national development, encouraging job seekers to contact the ministry’s hotlines for further information.