Flag carrier to expand fleet with two dry-leased A320s
Cambodia Angkor Air, the Kingdom’s flag carrier, inked an agreement with Singapore-based aircraft leasing company BOC Aviation Ltd yesterday to dry lease two Airbus A320s, with the new planes scheduled for delivery by the end of the year. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/flag-carrier-expand-fleet-two-dry-leased-a320s
Over 35,000 kids still in care
A staggering 35,000 Cambodian children and young people continue to be housed in a range of residential care facilities, with many of them flying under the government’s radar, according to a new report released by the Ministry of Social Affairs yesterday. ...
Touch Sokha and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/over-35000-kids-still-care
Ministry to use ‘experts’ to review exam grading
Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said yesterday that next month’s Grade 12 high school exams will largely follow the same process as the past few years, though a spokesman noted that new subject “experts” will be introduced to help spot grading errors. ...
Yesenia Amaro and Rinith Taing
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-use-experts-review-exam-grading
Parliament boycotts bear little fruit for opposition
While highly contentious new rules were being passed in the National Assembly on Monday banning the CNRP from collaborating with its former leader Sam Rainsy, photographs were posted to Facebook of senior opposition lawmakers dining at a riverside hotel in Kampot province. ...
George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/parliament-boycotts-bear-little-fruit-for-opposition-132457/
Private sector worried over universal wage law
The private sector is concerned that the newly proposed universal minimum wage law, which is reportedly being drafted by the government and comes on the heels of numerous new labour regulations, has created a climate of uncertainty, according to an industry expert. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/private-sector-worried-over-universal-wage-law
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