US Ambassador Advises More Labor Skills as Asean Integrates

US Ambassador William Todd on Thursday urged the Cambodian government to strengthen the skills of its laborers, in order to meet the needs of an integrated Asean in 2015. The 10 Southeast Asian countries that comprise Asean are all moving toward an integrated economic block, which will loosen the flow of labor and goods in the region of 600 million people. … An estimated 300,000 Cambodians enter the job market each year, with many seeking employment abroad, where they often work illegally and are vulnerable to abuse. Todd said that Cambodians must improve their labor skills, or be relegated to lower rungs of the regional economy. … Laov Him, director general of the Ministry of Labor’s vocational education department, said Asean’s market will need skilled technicians. But Cambodia needs help in training, not just from the government, but outside partners, including investors, he said. …

Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/us-ambassador-advises-more-labor-skills-as-asean-integrates/1785729.html