PHNOM PENH, Dec. 6 (FN) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday called on state institutions and private sector to offer more jobs to persons with disabilities.

"I would like to appeal to both state and private sectors to employ more persons with disabilities," he said during the 18th National Day of Persons with Disabilities attended by some 2,500 people, including many with disabilities.

"However, disabled persons themselves should build up their capacities to be qualified enough for the jobs," the prime minister said, "Also, well behavior is a must."

The Southeast Asian country is encouraging all state institutions to have disabled people making up two percent of their workforce and the private sector to hire disabled persons one percent of their employees.

The government estimated that the country has about 301,629 persons with disabilities, equivalent to 2.06 percent of the total population.

Vong Sauth, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, said currently, a total of 2,576 persons with disabilities have worked for 43 state ministries and institutions, accounting for 1.72 percent of the total workforce.

Also, about 2,072 disabled persons have been employed by private companies and organizations, he said.