PHNOM PENH: Secretary of State for the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Em Chan Makara, led a national forum on "Inclusive Employment for People with Disabilities 2023" on November 3 at the Cambodiana Hotel.

The Sec. of State, who is also Secretary-General of the Disability Action Council gave an opening speech at the forum where he emphasized that increasing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWD) is a priority of the Royal Government started under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen and carried out by his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet, along with Social Affairs Minister Chea Somethy.

He said that disability rights were a top priority of the first phase of Hun Manet’s Pentagon Strategy. His own ministry is working to strengthen law and protection on the rights of PWD in accordance with the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He said that Friday’s forum is an important step to create a job market for PWD so that they can equally compete in the public and private sectors. He said the forum was a good opportunity to meet and discuss solutions for PWD in the labor market using creative ideas.

"Creating a work environment for persons with disabilities means that we must do everything possible to ensure that the lives of persons with disabilities have the same chances of success as those without disabilities" he said.

In 2022, a total of 3,748 civil servants with disabilities, including 862 women, accounted for 2.01%, of workers across 37 ministries and government institutions. A total of 5,839 PWD, including 3,836 women, are working across 291 private sector institutions including banks, microfinance institutions, hotels and factories. The businesses have been registered and certified in the implementation of the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and are mandated to retain a staff quota of at least 1% PWD.