The Minister of Labour and Vocational Training has urged Australia to consider giving Cambodians employment opportunities to work in the country, following its Agriculture Visa Programme introduced.

H.E. Ith Samheng, the minister, made the point when receiving H.E. Pablo Chiho Kang, Ambassador of Australia to Cambodia at the ministry yesterday to discuss Cambodia’s engagement in the Australia’s visa programme for agricultural sector.

The two sides discussed about the labour management procedures and mechanisms for both the recruitment and transfer of Cambodian migrant workers, especially to address possible deception, labour exploitation and human trafficking.

The Australian Agriculture Visa Programme was announced on Aug 23, 2021, and according to the Ambassador it is open for all Australia’s partner countries, especially those in ASEAN.

Under the Australian Agriculture Visa Scheme, migrant workers can get the employment up to three years in Australia through the facilitation by the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

H.E. Ith Samheng also encouraged the Australian side to mull opening similar opportunities for other areas such as services and industry.

He thanked the Government of Australia as well as the Ambassador for the continued support to Cambodia, including financial assistance, human resource capacitation and physical infrastructure development.