This article is a guest post.
A quota system governs the recruitment of foreigners in Cambodia, which says the number of foreign employees should not exceed 10 percent of the total number of employees. More precisely, a Cambodian company is allowed to recruit 1 percent of manual workers, 3 percent office workers, and 6 percent experts. Companies, however, may exceed this quota under certain conditions due to the nature of the company. That being said, the solution to meet a company’s quota is in establishing a mutual understanding with foreign remote employees using remote interpreting.
If you are looking for a job in Cambodia, here is some valuable information to help you cope with the procedures and find a job: Cambodia is considered one of the least developed countries in Asia, with a population of 50 percent under the age of 21. Moreover, the local workforce suffers from a lack of education and training.
The Cambodian economy is based on the following components: agriculture (rice, tobacco, soybeans, and rubber), fishing, textiles, construction, and tourism. Together, they contribute 20 percent to its gross domestic product (GDP). Note that the country’s economy also relies on international aid amounting to 12 percent of its GDP. Thus, much remains to be done before the government can export to European and American countries. The agriculture in Cambodia is also highly dependent on climate change that affects the region. The kingdom’s authorities are aware of the weakness of the export and financial sector.
You can work remotely, and those foreigners who plan to work in Cambodia are sent to the kingdom by European companies. Thus, they have extended rights to residency, study, insurance, and so on. But if you are looking for a job there on your own, you can be an excellent candidate, especially if you have qualifications and skills that are not available locally. Many local firms are constantly looking for specific specialists to develop better and expand their activities. For instance, if you are a medical worker your experience and professionalism in nursing will be highly appreciated.
As a foreigner in Cambodia or remotely, you cannot apply for a job straight away. You must be fluent in spoken and written English and prove that you have qualifications and skills that are not available locally. Having knowledge of the Khmer language and a minimal understanding of some local phrases will be a significant advantage. But for whatever the case, as mentioned above, remote interpreting could be very beneficial in improving communication and interaction. There is no need to hire interpreters as permanent staff, instead, you can only seek their help when there are important jobs.
Remotely or not, working conditions in Cambodia are almost similar to those applied internationally. Hence, you are more likely to earn more than a local employee as a foreigner. As for public holidays, employees are paid 200 percent of the daily wage. Overtime work is paid at 150 percent of the daily salary during the day and up to 200 percent when it is done at night or on the day of rest. In the event of illness or other conditions that prevent the fulfilment of obligations, an agreement must be concluded between the employer and his employee. If the employee has not resumed work after six months, his employment contract may be terminated.
The legal workweek in Cambodia consists of 48 hours and a full day of rest per week. Working hours less than 48 hours are considered part-time workweeks. Moreover, when an employee has to work overtime, he should not work more than 10 hours a day or 54 hours a week. A full-time employee is entitled to 18 days of paid leave per year. An extra day is added every three years.
In the case of a fixed-term contract, it will be renewable and have a two-year term. However, the employer may not explain the refusal to renew if he does not want to do so after two years. Please note that the contract must indicate the start and end dates of the work. Otherwise, it will be considered a permanent contract.
In the case of a permanent contract, the employer must justify its decision to terminate the employee’s agreement. He also has to pay his graduation allowance at the end of the job.
Cambodia is open to foreign professionals, remote workers as well as foreign investment. The country has attracted expatriates for many years thanks to its multifaceted economy and many opportunities. Although the opportunity of working in Cambodia is excellent, finding a job there may not be as easy as it sounds. It would help if you had perseverance and patience above all else. You are also advised to request information about working conditions at the embassy in advance.
Read also: Tracking High-quality Job Candidates through Digital Hiring
Author bio:
Aurora Heidrick is an experienced HR Manager with a demonstrated history of helping businesses to deliver people-related processes, vision, and strategy. She helps managing company staff, including coordinating and supporting the recruitment process. She contributed to many websites by writing about different business fields and HR challenges and solutions. She likes to write about these topics to reach out to a greater audience and to share valuable information for people in that industry.
She can be reached at auroraheidrick1@gmail.com.
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