UN Analysis Final.pdf - United Nations in Cambodia

V
YOUTH AND
EMPLOYMENT
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE WORK, OUR SALARY FROM THE GARMENT FACTORY IS BARELY
ENOUGH AT PRESENT FOR OUR MONTHLY EXPENSES…WE ARE IN DEBT ALMOST EVERY
MONTH BUT THIS JOB SUITS US SINCE WE KNOW NOTHING… – FGD WITH FEMALE YOUTH
WORKING IN GARMENT FACTORIES, PHNOM PENH
Cambodia has experienced strong economic growth, averaging 8.2 per cent per annum between
1997 and 2007 (CDRI 2008). This growth has brought about changes to the structure of the economy.
However, much of the growth has been concentrated in a few sectors: garment manufacturing,
construction, transport and tourism and restaurants. The agriculture sector still absorbs more than 60 per cent
of the labour force despite its comparably slower growth rate at 3.4 per cent between 1994 and 2004. Overall,
most of the increased demand has been in the urban areas, accelerating the rural-urban divide. Recently,
employment is estimated to have grown at a rate of 3.3 per annum from 1997 to 2007. Currently 300,000
young people are entering the labour market annually – a number that is expected to rise to 400,000 over
the years ahead (UNDP and ILO 2007). Without sustainable growth unemployment will become an increasing
problem.
Without a coordinated response, Cambodia will likely suffer not only huge youth unemployment, but a
paucity of decent work opportunities and high levels of economic and social uncertainty. Recently, the
Government and other stakeholders have worked to address the problem of youth unemployment both
through policies, such as employment legislation for youth, and enhancing social protection. The youth
employment challenge is enormous. With economic and political stability bringing in more investment for
rural and agricultural development, as noted previously, education will be key to the opening door to decent
employment.
5.1 A REVIEW OF YOUTH-RELATED EMPLOYMENT POLICIES
The Government has implemented many regulatory mechanisms and social safety nets in support of an
active youth labour force. The National Strategic Development Plan (2006−2010) sets out measures to
implement the Rectangular Strategy and to meet the Cambodian Millennium Development Goal targets
for 2010. Towards this aim, MoLVT strategically focuses on four main areas: (1) job creation; (2) improved
working conditions; (3) implementation of social safety nets in conjunction with the labour law; and (4)
human resource development (MoLVT 2008a).
Situation Analysis of Youth in Cambodia
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