Youth and Employment In Cambodia By Ms Pen

Youth and Employment In Cambodia By: Ms. Pen Bopha Chief of provincial office Khmer Youth Association, Prey Veng branch Website: www. kya-cambodia. org

Contents: 1. Background 2. Youth and Employment in Cambodia 3. Recommendation to address youth unemployment in Cambodia

1 - Background - After 1991 Paris Peace agreement on Cambodian Conflict, the civil society movements have been established. - In 1992, the Khmer Youth Association was established by youth and students from different universities/institutes and communities.

KYA Vision and Mission 1. Our vision is to be potential youth, working with youth and for youth, for social positive change. 2. Our mission is to upgrade and promote youth participation in human rights, democracy, peace building, health, gender equality, education and vocational training for young people in Cambodia. KYA strives toward an improved framework for respecting human rights, democracy and the empowerment of young people by government and other stakeholders with the principles that encourage youth participation and recognize youth’s roles and works.

2. Youth and Employment - Currently has a large majority of youth under 30 years of age covering about 70% of total population - The labor forces increased 3. 3% annually but the increase of job opportunity has been certainly slow. - there about 43, 000 fresh university graduates annually and amongst them between 15, 000 – 20, 000 got the jobs.

2. Youth and Employment (Con’t) - Generally, 1 out of 10 of the youth get employed - Small job market and the quality of education is somewhat poor - lack of job opportunities in their native place potentially earn more incomes to support their families. - Most youth migrate to find job and face vulnerabilities to illegal scheme

2. Youth and Employment (con’t) - Youth is seen by society as inexperience, unethical and trouble makers - officials in government institutions practiced nepotism and corruption acts as barriers - lack of access to information and internet in the communities or in remote areas. - Limited implementation of labor law, weak monitoring and interference from powerful official and big businessmen. jhkjhfghh

3. Recommendations to address youth unemployment in Cambodia - A National Youth Policy is urgently needed to serve as a road map for Youth & Government - Improve quality of education and training to open up the opportunity for quality employment - Establish vocational training centers in the rural areas and make it accessible for young people from poor families. - Strengthen effective implementation of Labor Law through involvement of CSO in the monitoring

3. Recommendations to address youth unemployment in Cambodia (Con’t) - The Government must have internship policy to open opportunity in the public and private agencies. - Establish a regular forum between State, private sector and youth groups in order to exchange experiences and seeking employment opportunities. - Establish an office for job counseling - Strengthen the implementation of immigration law. - Mandate that all high schools have career counseling program for Youth - Improve access to information and technologies

Investing in Youth, contributes to a future of hope and opportunity for all generations! If a country does not take youth into account, it is not different from a person cutting his or her own hand, then join the athletic contest! Thanks you!