Labor
Police sign cooperation deal with UK’s NCA
Cambodia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to combat crimes including child and sexual trafficking. ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35082/police-sign-cooperation-deal-with-uk---s-nca/
Child-rescuing maverick now hunting pedophiles
Even by his own admission, it is an extraordinary change in fortunes for Adam Whittington. Eight months ago, the so-called “child recovery agent” was languishing in a stark Lebanese jail facing kidnapping charges after a failed attempt to snatch two children from the streets of Beirut ...
George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/child-rescuing-maverick-now-hunting-pedophiles-124529/
More firms under government umbrella, says NSSF
Statistics released by the National Social Security Fund yesterday showed that it increased its reach in 2016, adding more than 900 new private firms encompassing some 59,000 workers, and increasing its workplace accident payouts. ...
Kong Meta
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/more-firms-under-government-umbrella-says-nssf
Minister plans railway for workers
The Labor Ministry is considering constructing a railway line connecting Phnom Penh and select provinces to special economic zones (SEZ) or industrial areas in response to the high number of road accidents involving commuting workers. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/34978/minister-plans-railway-for-workers/
Sex slaves rescued from Japan
Cambodian and Japanese authorities have rescued seven Cambodian women forced into sexual slavery after being lured to Japan with the promise of restaurant jobs. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/34419/sex-slaves-rescued-from-japan/
ILO warns of Brexit threat to garments
Cambodia’s critical garment export sector could face major risks in both the short and long term from the U.K.’s surprise vote last year to exit the E.U., the International Labor Organization (ILO) has warned. ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/ilo-warns-of-brexit-threatto-garments-123535/
Many migrants sent home in 2016
More than 800 Cambodian migrant workers were assisted and sent back to the country in 2016 by the government through its embassies, but one rights group says even greater attention needs to be paid to overseas workers. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/34185/many-migrants-sent-home-in-2016/
Skilled workers and infrastructure needed
Cambodia needs about $12 billion over a 10-year period to invest in the development of a skilled workforce and improved infrastructure in order to meet the goals of its Industrial Development Policy (IDP), Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said recently. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/skilled-workers-and-infrastructure-needed
Call to stop child labor
Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng yesterday called on officials to take stricter action in preventing child labor and asked civil society organizations to help monitor and report abuses immediately, but without doing so publicly.The call was made during a ceremony at the Labor Ministry to ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33786/call-to-stop-child-labor/
Minister blames borders for trafficking
Interior Minister Sar Kheng blamed the country’s continual problems with trafficking on porous borders and local government officials, who he said during a speech yesterday were frequently ignoring edicts from the national government and even orders he personally delivered himself. ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33463/minister-blames-borders-for-trafficking/
No one in union law firing line, says Vannak
The government yesterday assured those in the garment industry that the Trade Union Law, which came into effect in May, is not meant to put pressure on any particular group, but rather to help employers and employees work together in harmony. Labor Ministry secretary of state ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33337/no-one-in-union-law-firing-line--says-vannak/
Unions, government consult on new min wage law
The Ministry of Labour met with unions on Friday to gather input on a universal minimum wage law currently being drafted, union representatives and ministry officials confirmed yesterday. “The meeting is a forum for each party to review the draft and provide comments so the ...
Sen David and Cristina Maza
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unions-government-consult-new-min-wage-law
Government: Use labor council to settle disputes
Despite longstanding criticism of the Arbitration Council, Labor Minister Ith Samheng defended the government mediation body during a meeting yesterday, saying it represented workers’ best chances at solving labor disputes.During a discussion with members of the Fair Work Commission of Australia on Friday, Mr. Samheng ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33285/government--use-labor-council-to-settle-disputes/
Amid building boom, safety left dangling
Sroeun, 43, a former rice farmer from Kandal province, said he was sure there had never been any accidents at his construction site. “Small things happen. Scratches on our hands,” he said, declining to give his full name as a supervisor stood nearby during a break ...
Aisha Down
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/amid-building-boom-safety-left-dangling-122063/
Garment workers continue protest
Nearly 1,700 garment factory workers in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town entered day five of their protest yesterday against a factory over wage cuts as well as allegations that the factory was responsible for the assault of a union representative. Protestors accused Lu Thai (Cambodia) of ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33115/garment-workers-continue-protest/
Unions: change minimum wage law
More than 40 unions have joined together to ask the Labor Ministry to make changes to 10 articles in the draft Minimum Wage Law, saying the law did not cover all sectors and restricted the rights of union representatives in wage negotiations among a host ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33063/unions--change-minimum-wage-law/
PM warns workers over protests
Prime Minister Hun Sen warned potential protesters during a speech in front of hundreds of garment workers yesterday, telling the crowd that while it was his duty to make sure investors came and stayed in the country, they had to stop protesting to keep the ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32956/pm-warns-workers-over-protests/
Advocates, employers tussle over compliance
Local garment sector stakeholders failed to find common ground at a meeting on supply chain safety protocols, with the government and employers expressing reluctance to take on an additional level of responsibility. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/advocates-employers-tussle-over-compliance
Don’t increase garment workers’ rent, says pm
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday urged landlords not to indiscriminately increase the price of rent in light of the upcoming hike in the wages of garment workers next year. Speaking at the inauguration of the Coca-Cola factory in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, the ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32799/don---t-increase--garment-workers-----rent--says-pm/
No evidence of child labor at brick factories, gov’t says
The Labor Ministry says that it is investigating fresh allegations of widespread child labor at the country’s brick-making factories, but claims to have found no evidence as of yet. The ministry made the announcement on Friday, hours after the release of a new report by local ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/no-evidence-child-labor-brick-factories-government-says-121475/
Unions happy over labor protections
Union officials have applauded the Ministry of Labor which is preparing to ratify some International Labor Organization’s (ILO) conventions, including two that unions, factory workers and domestic workers have long demanded. The Labor Ministry said on Wednesday that to promote and protect the rights, benefits and ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32695/unions-happy-over-labor-protections/
Committee for work safety created
The government has established the National Committee for Health and Work Safety, to comprise in part officials from relevant ministries to review, give counsel and spread information related to health and work safety. According to a sub-decree dated Monday and signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, ...
Mom kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32302/committee-for-work-safety-created/
Ministry drafting new minimum wage law to cover all workers
The Labour Ministry said last week it was drafting a minimum wage law that would expand beyond the garment industry and cover all workers, a proposal that drew cautious praise from union leaders and advocates, along with a healthy dose of scepticism. ...
Bun Sengkong and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-drafting-new-minimum-wage-law-cover-all-workers
Minimum wage for all a step closer
The Ministry of Labor said yesterday that it was working with experts and International Labor Organization (ILO) officials to create a draft law laying out the monthly minimum wage for workers in a variety of fields outside the garment and textile industry, which late last ...
Mom kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/31388/minimum-wage-for-all-a-step-closer/