The first of 11 job centres planned for Cambodia was launched in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to help bring job seekers and recruiters together.

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training Secretary of State Pich Sophorn said the centres would better match the skills of job seekers with the needs of employers to boost workplace productivity.

“Labour market information made available through the centre will not only coordinate job seekers and recruiters but also help the government develop effective labour market policies” he said.

He also said it would help break a culture of nepotism in employment practices and provide transparency in hiring by making information on vacancies available to a wider pool of job seekers. “I think all Cambodians should be fairly informed about labour markets through the centre,” he said.

Carmela Torres, a senior skills specialist at the International Labour Organisation, which provided technical and financial support, said the centre would be an important tool for helping workers laid off during the ongoing economic crisis. “The ILO will give further support to establish more centres in the future, as they are an important institution for providing job and career services to Cambodian people,” she said.

Pich Sophorn said the ministry will also launch a job centre in Battambang this year and 9 next year to help job seekers and provide the ministry with labour market information.

“We hope the system of providing information on labour markets through the centre will help the government compile data and set up targets for specific training,” he said.