THE LABOR-MARKET EXPERIENCE OF CAMBODIANS - POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR SETTLEMENT SERVICES

A proportion of the annual migrant intake now comprises persons accept ed under the Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program entry categories , for reasons other than the direct contribution their skills can make to economic growth. This paper examines the labour market experience of Cambodians, and considers the policy implications for resettlement services for refugees. Cambodians experience high rates of unemploymen t, and have low levels of English language proficiency, low levels of educational attainment, and few possess post-school qualifications. Re luctance to develop settlement services for refugees, to make special provisions for access within existing services, or even to ensure equi table access to existing services has contributed to the long term eco nomic dependency of a sizeable proportion of this group. It is recomme nded that they be given greater access to basic, advanced and job rela ted English language tuition. They, and other refugees with similar di sadvantages also require special access to job search skills programs, vocational training, and wage subsidy and special employment programs .