Apply for 2027 Foreign Manpower Quota by 30 November 2026
The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training ("MLVT") has announced the opening of the application period for the 2027 Foreign Manpower Quota ("FMQ"). All factories and enterprises that currently employ, or intend to employ, foreign employees in 2027 must obtain FMQ approval to continue employing foreign workers in Cambodia.
Applications for the 2027 FMQ may be submitted through the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System ("FWCMS") at fwcms.mlvt.gov.kh.
Given that the approval process may take several weeks, employers are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
To improve foreign labour data management, the MLVT requires all enterprises and factories to link the Labour Automated Central Management System ("LACMS") with the FWCMS. Guidance on the system-linking process is available through the FWCMS.
The MLVT also reminds all foreign nationals residing and working in Cambodia that they must obtain a work permit through the FWCMS within 90 calendar days from their first entry into Cambodia.
Failure to obtain the 2027 FMQ within the prescribed deadline may result in penalties imposed by the Labour Inspector. The applicable fines range from KHR 12.2 million (approximately US$3,050) to KHR 18 million (approximately US$4,500).
These penalties are equivalent to 61 to 90 days of the base daily wage, pursuant to Article 369 of the Cambodian Labour Law and Prakas No. 326 on the Base Daily Wage for the Calculation of Penalty Fees.
Employers intending to hire or continue employing foreign workers in 2027 should submit their FMQ applications well before the deadline to avoid processing delays. An approved FMQ is a prerequisite for obtaining work permits for foreign employees.
Employers should also review their workforce planning for 2027, particularly if the number of foreign employees is expected to exceed the standard quota of 10% of the Cambodian workforce. In such cases, an application for an additional quota may be required.
Should you require assistance with the FMQ application process or an application for an additional foreign worker quota, please contact us for further support.
