Youth and EmploymentIn Cambodia

By: Ms. Pen BophaChief of provincial office

Khmer Youth Association, Prey Veng branch

Website: www.kya-cambodia.org

Contents:Contents:

1. Background 1. Background 2. Youth and Employment in Cambodia2. Youth and Employment in Cambodia3. Recommendation to address youth 3. Recommendation to address youth unemployment in Cambodia unemployment in Cambodia

1- Background1- Background

- After 1991 Paris Peace agreement on - After 1991 Paris Peace agreement on Cambodian Conflict, the civil society Cambodian Conflict, the civil society movements have been established. movements have been established.

- In 1992, the Khmer Youth Association was- In 1992, the Khmer Youth Association was established by youth and students from established by youth and students from

different universities/institutes and different universities/institutes and communities.communities.

KYA Vision and MissionKYA Vision and Mission

1.1. Our vision is to be potential youth, working with youth and Our vision is to be potential youth, working with youth and for youth, for social positive change.for youth, for social positive change.

2. Our mission is to upgrade and promote youth participation 2. Our mission is to upgrade and promote youth participation in human rights, democracy, peace building, health, in human rights, democracy, peace building, health, gender equality, education and vocational training for gender equality, education and vocational training for young people in Cambodia. KYA strives toward an young people in Cambodia. KYA strives toward an improved framework for respecting human rights, improved framework for respecting human rights, democracy and the empowerment of young people by democracy and the empowerment of young people by government and other stakeholders with the principles that government and other stakeholders with the principles that encourage youth participation and recognize youth’s roles encourage youth participation and recognize youth’s roles and works.and works.

2. Youth and Employment2. Youth and Employment

- Currently has a large majority of youth under 30 Currently has a large majority of youth under 30 years of age covering about 70% of total years of age covering about 70% of total populationpopulation

- The labor forces increased 3.3% annually but the The labor forces increased 3.3% annually but the increase of job opportunity has been certainly increase of job opportunity has been certainly slow.slow.

- there are about 43,000 fresh university graduates there are about 43,000 fresh university graduates annually and amongst them between 15,000 – annually and amongst them between 15,000 – 20,000 got the jobs.20,000 got the jobs.

2. Youth and Employment (Con’t)2. Youth and Employment (Con’t)

- Generally, 1 out of 10 of the youth get employedGenerally, 1 out of 10 of the youth get employed- Small job market and the quality of education is Small job market and the quality of education is

somewhat poorsomewhat poor- lack of job opportunities in their native place lack of job opportunities in their native place

potentially earn more incomes to support their potentially earn more incomes to support their families. families.

- Most youth migrate to find job and face Most youth migrate to find job and face vulnerabilities to illegal schemevulnerabilities to illegal scheme

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2. Youth and Employment (con’t)2. Youth and Employment (con’t)

- Youth is seen by society as inexperience, Youth is seen by society as inexperience, unethical and trouble makers unethical and trouble makers

- officials in government institutions practiced officials in government institutions practiced nepotism and corruption acts as barriers nepotism and corruption acts as barriers

- lack of access to information and internet in the lack of access to information and internet in the communities or in remote areas. communities or in remote areas.

- Limited implementation of labor law, weak Limited implementation of labor law, weak monitoring and interference from powerful official monitoring and interference from powerful official and big businessmen.and big businessmen.

3. Recommendations to address youth 3. Recommendations to address youth unemployment in Cambodiaunemployment in Cambodia

- A National Youth Policy is urgently needed to A National Youth Policy is urgently needed to serve as a road map for Youth & Governmentserve as a road map for Youth & Government

- Improve quality of education and training to open Improve quality of education and training to open up the opportunity for quality employmentup the opportunity for quality employment

- Establish vocational training centers in the rural Establish vocational training centers in the rural areas and make it accessible for young people areas and make it accessible for young people from poor families.from poor families.

- Strengthen effective implementation of Labor Law Strengthen effective implementation of Labor Law through involvement of CSO in the monitoring through involvement of CSO in the monitoring

3. Recommendations to address youth 3. Recommendations to address youth unemployment in Cambodia (Con’t)unemployment in Cambodia (Con’t)

- The Government must have internship policy to open The Government must have internship policy to open opportunity in the public and private agencies. opportunity in the public and private agencies.

- Establish a regular forum between State, private Establish a regular forum between State, private sector and youth groups in order to exchange sector and youth groups in order to exchange experiences and seeking employment opportunities.experiences and seeking employment opportunities.

- Establish an office for job counseling Establish an office for job counseling - Strengthen the implementation of immigration law.Strengthen the implementation of immigration law.- Mandate that all high schools have career counseling Mandate that all high schools have career counseling

program for Youthprogram for Youth- Improve access to information and technologiesImprove access to information and technologies

Investing in Youth, contributes to a future of Investing in Youth, contributes to a future of hope and opportunity for all generations!hope and opportunity for all generations!

If a country does not take youth into account, it is not If a country does not take youth into account, it is not different from a person cutting his or her own hand, then different from a person cutting his or her own hand, then

join the athletic contest!join the athletic contest!

Thanks you!Thanks you!