A Japanese driving school in Phnom Penh is stepping up efforts to prepare Cambodian workers for careers in Japan, aiming to train and send up to 300 professional drivers each year to help ease Japan’s acute shortage of logistics staff. Minami (Cambodia), part of a Fukuoka‑based group, has been operating since 2017, offering Japanese‑style safety education, driving instruction and language training. The programme combines practical driving skills with lessons in Japanese traffic rules, left‑hand driving, and employment support, including visa procedures and interview preparation. Kobayashi Ryosuke, CEO of Minami (Cambodia), said the initiative is about more than recruitment. “Our goal is not only to send people to Japan, we want to train people who can work safely, continue working for a long time and use their experience to build a better life,” he explained. He added that sharing Japan’s road safety culture is central to the project, given Cambodia’s high accident rates. In April, the school sent its first batch of 10 truck drivers to Japan, with plans to expand to 300 annually. Demand remains strong across Japan’s logistics, bus, taxi and delivery sectors, where some drivers can earn over $1,500 a month. However, Kobayashi cautioned that workers must factor in high living costs, taxes and social security contributions. Adapting to Japan’s driving culture is one of the biggest challenges. “The biggest issue is not driving skill itself, but the difference in safety awareness,” Kobayashi noted. Proper training is seen as essential to bridge these gaps. The programme also looks beyond immediate employment. Minami hopes to support workers when they return to Cambodia, helping them apply their skills in logistics, tourism or even entrepreneurship. General Manager Mao Imaki said the long‑term aim is to build a reputation for Cambodian drivers as reliable professionals. Cambodia’s Labour Minister Heng Sour welcomed the initiative, stressing that overseas placements can boost incomes, careers and national skills. “If we send workers who are truly skilled, they will know how to protect their interests, understand host country laws, and apply new technologies when they return,” he said. With Japan’s driver shortage showing no sign of easing, the partnership offers Cambodian workers both opportunity abroad and a pathway to strengthen skills at home. -2026-06-23
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