NEC body to fight bad press
Amid accusations of bias in favour of the ruling party – and following the removal of the main opposition party from the electoral field – the National Election Committee has announced the creation of a new press reaction team to “attack back at negative points”. ...
Niem Chheng and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-body-fight-bad-press
Private prison breaks ground
Ground was officially broken yesterday on a new facility at Prey Sar prison that will soon enable the upper crust of the Kingdom’s underworld to buy their way out of overcrowded jails and into the relative luxury of a privately run institution. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/private-prison-breaks-ground
Garment wages soar
Research has shown some staff in the garment sector can now earn up to $480 each month as unions and the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia congratulated workers for taking home the new minimum monthly wage of $170 for the first time. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50109499/garment-wages-soar/
Set of steps could cut carbon in half: report
Cambodia could reduce its projected carbon emissions by 57 percent over the next 30 years without taking a financial hit if it implements low-carbon development policies in five key sectors, according to a new report in the journal Energy Policy. ...
Cristina Maza
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/set-steps-could-cut-carbon-half-report
Tourism as usual at Angkor Wat despite steeper fees
The steep increase in Angkor Wat ticket prices on February 1 did not discourage tourists from visiting the country’s chief tourist draw, as some feared, but it also did not reap any significant material gains for the government coffers, new data shows. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/tourism-usual-angkor-wat-despite-steeper-fees
Correspondent banking in retreat, but growing in Asia
While financial inclusion is a top priority for emerging economies, new research suggests more stringent enforcement of anti-money regulations in recent years has resulted in major Western banks disconnecting from these regions, leaving local businesses without access to the international financial system. ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/correspondent-banking-retreat-growing-asia
City mulls building pumping station amid floods
Following recent criticism of the capital’s flood management system, an official yesterday said City Hall will decide this month if it will build a new pumping station and begin to clear existing canals of debris to mitigate the risk of floods. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/city-mulls-building-pumping-station-amid-floods
Beach sellers must make room for Chinese investors
Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities will ask the government to deal with 10 sellers who refuse to relocate from Koh Puos – or Hawaii beach – and Lomher Kay beach. Vendors’ representatives have asked for compensation from provincial authorities to relocate to a new area. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099381/beach-sellers-must-make-room-chinese-investors/
Visitors from Vietnam up 18 per cent in Q1
The number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Cambodia and Cambodians visiting Vietnam has increased recently, according to new data released by the Cambodian tourism ministry. Vietnam has the largest number of tourists visiting Cambodia at 600,000, or 21 per cent, of all international visitors. ...
Funcinpec party’s feud over Secretary-General post continues
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the newly elected president of the royalist Funcinpec party, and Nhiek Bun Chhay, its new second vice president, continued to spar Tuesday over the validity of former Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Say Hak’s appointment as the party’s secretary-general. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/funcinpec-partys-feud-over-secretary-general-post-continues-78633/
Opposition, civil society groups rebuke gov’t over stipends
Government officials remained mum Thursday over a new sub-decree purporting to formalize monthly expenditures of senior government officials while the opposition and civil society groups said the regulation was a facade meant to conceal the real amount of money being made by CPP officials. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/opposition-civil-society-groups-rebuke-govt-over-stipends-70149/
Free Trade Union proposes $130 garment worker minimum wage
One of the country’s largest unions on Sunday came out in favor of a new minimum wage for garment workers far lower than what many of its counterparts have been agitating for over the past several months, bolstering prospects for a compromise with factories. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/free-trade-union-proposes-130-garment-worker-minimum-wage-70304/
Finalised version of draft NEC law nearly finished
Working groups from the ruling and opposition parties are expected today to finish their work on a draft of the new law on the organisation and function of the National Election Committee, Cambodia National Rescue Party working group head Kuoy Bunroeun said yesterday. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/finalised-version-draft-nec-law-nearly-finished
Working group minimum wage vote due wednesday
A group of union leaders, factory owners and government representatives set up to negotiate a recommendation for a new minimum wage in the garment sector is due to meet Wednesday for a vote on a final figure, according to those involved in the talks. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/working-group-minimum-wage-vote-due-wednesday-71335/
Assembly approves National Election Committee
Putting the final stamp of approval on a process that took months of negotiation, the Cambodian National Assembly has approved the new structure and membership of the National Election Committee, the body that will oversee voter registration and elections. ...
Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/assembly-approves-national-election-committee/2712681.html
Police officer arrested, later released after shooting in air
A police officer was arrested on Tuesday night for firing his state-issued K-59 pistol into the air after getting into a fight at a Khmer New Year party in Phnom Penh, but he was released without charge the same night, police said. ...
Ouch Sony
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-officer-arrested-later-released-after-shooting-in-air-82050/
Grassroots democracy party elects old faces
The Grassroots Democracy Party, a brainchild of “Khmer for Khmer” advocacy group leader Kem Ley, held its inaugural congress in Phnom Penh on Sunday, electing—unopposed—Mr. Ley’s close colleague Yeng Virak as temporary leader despite vows of a new style of politics. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/grassroots-democracy-party-elects-old-faces-90420/
China says it has stopped land reclamation in South China Sea
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced Wednesday Beijing has halted land reclamation in the South China Sea, but other regional leaders voiced concerns China was simply moving to a new phase on the disputed islands: construction of outposts. ...
Pam Dockins
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/south-china-sea-asean-ministerial/2902461.html
Union Law worries garment sector investors from Hong Kong
A visiting delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, which handles tens of billions of dollars in regional investment, says it raised concerns about the low threshold for forming unions in a pending new law during meetings with government officials Monday. ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/union-law-worries-garment-sector-investors-from-hong-kong-91376/
Hun Sen rebukes Sam Rainsy over French media interview
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday rebuked opposition leader Sam Rainsy for telling a French newspaper that a high-profile dinner between their families last month was an example of how the premier has turned over a new leaf in a life of tyranny. ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-rebukes-sam-rainsy-over-french-media-interview-92650/