How the AEC Might Benefit Cambodia’s Younger Generation?

Photo Credit: http://www.aseancommunity.net

Recently, all 10 members of ASEAN unanimously agree to make a single economic community, formally known as ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), possible in the region. As the AEC will widely liberalize the flow of goods & services, investment capitals and labors across this region, some sceptics are pessimistic about benefits Cambodian youth would get from this integration due to its shortcomings of skilled labors. Put those pessimistic views aside, however, I am optimistic that young Cambodians will ultimately benefit from the AEC in significant ways.

First, as a large sum of ASEAN populations will invite greater investments to the region, it is hard to deny that more job opportunities will be available for Cambodian youth. Moreover, the integration not only will create a competitive market for Cambodia but more importantly will bring with advanced technology and diverse skills which are essential for young people to absorb. Whether they like to challenge or not, Cambodian youth will be pressured by an inflow of their ASEAN peers competing for better positions in the market, so it indeed helps push Cambodian youngsters to work harder to build up their capacities including education and potential skills that is good to human capitals development in Cambodia. Finally, the risk to illegally migrate to work among young Cambodians in other ASEAN countries, especially Thailand and Malaysia, will be greatly reduced, because the AEC is fundamental to make the movement of labor forces in the region less bureaucratic as well as allow citizens of ASEAN to travel boundlessly across ASEAN countries.

In short, while some people are cynical to the advantages young Cambodians may get after Cambodia endorses to join the AEC, I do believe Cambodian youth will obtain more benefits though they could be lost in the short run.