The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training has teamed up with Thai building materials company Siam Cement Group (SCG) to train construction workers through a series of programmes and competitions.
In a bid to make it easier for developers to find suitable subcontractors, the ministry and the cement firm signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday in which they agree to organise training courses and contests to raise the skill level of workers in the construction industry.
“With decades of operating experience in Cambodia, SCG understands the challenges that homeowners and developers often face in finding well-trained and skilled contractors, as well as the challenges that talented and well-trained contractors have in getting good wages for their superior work,” said Somwang Manpimonchai, SCG’s country director.
“We will provide knowledge and skills to all contractors,” he said, adding that the initiative is part of his company’s long-term vision to improve construction standards in the kingdom.
Laov Him, general director of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, said Cambodia lacks skilled workers in the construction sector, and that the new agreement will help amend the situation.
“Now the skill level of construction workers is just acceptable. We need to improve this, and there is no better way to do so than by working with the private sector,” he said.
Touch Samnang, deputy director of the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, told Khmer Times that finding skilled construction workers is always a challenge.
“It is always difficult. We are always competing with other projects and developers for the best workers,” Mr Samnang said.
As part of the initiative, the contractor academy programme was launched earlier this month, which provides training in cement plastering and roofing at two vocational training schools in Phnom Penh.
Graduates of the programme will earn a certificate and gain entrance to competitions where they will have a chance to showcase their abilities in front of homeowners and developers, as well as earn cash prizes.
Cement plastering and roofing competitions will be held in a number of cities across Cambodia, with winners gaining access to a final contest in the capital. The final winner will receive a $500 award and a trip to Thailand.
