National government
Ministries and other national bodies
New arbitration center president calls for court system’s support
The newly established National Commercial Arbitration Center (NCAC) may have been set up to allow businesses to settle disputes outside the court system, but it still needs support from judges and court officials to do its work effectively, its president said on Friday. Speaking at ...
Kang Sothear
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/new-arbitration-center-president-calls-for-court-systems-support-72408/
Poor urban renters a ‘forgotten demographic’
When Hay Bunny left her home in Prey Veng province some five years ago to find a job in Phnom Penh, she was not expecting to wind up living in a small tin shack hemmed in by dozens of nearly identical dwellings on a single ...
Holly Robertson and Ouch Sony
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/poor-urban-renters-a-forgotten-demographic-72322/
Maid MoU drawing near
Cambodia and Malaysia expect to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the end of the year that would reopen the pipeline of local maids being sent to work there, officials said on the sidelines of a final round of discussions yesterday between the countries. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/maid-mou-drawing-near
Still work to do on land issue: envoy
Germany’s ambassador to Cambodia, Joachim Baron von Marschall, yesterday cautioned against too much optimism in the land sector in the face of ongoing disputes and forced evictions. The ambassador made the comments at a workshop on sustainable land policy in the capital, where speakers from ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/still-work-do-land-issue-envoy
Cambodia sets minimum wage below union demands
Cambodia on Wednesday increased the monthly minimum wage for garment workers by 28% to $128, falling short of union workers’ demands and creating the potential for further strikes in the country. Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, said the ...
James Hookway and Sun Narin
http://online.wsj.com/articles/cambodia-sets-minimum-wage-below-union-demands-1415789944
Cambodia to raise monthly minimum wage for garment workers to 123 USD for 2015
Cambodia on Wednesday decided to increase the monthly minimum wage in the garment sector to 123 U.S. dollars, up 23 percent from the current 100 U.S. dollars, Labor Minister Ith Samheng said. ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2014-11/12/c_133784394.htm
Cambodia raises garment wage, but unions say not enough
Cambodia on Wednesday raised the controversial monthly minimum wage for garment workers by 28 percent, a decision likely to infuriate unions seeking a higher increase and revive calls for strike action. Sixteen members of the Labour Ministry’s Labour Advisory Committee voted for the government-proposed minimum ...
World Bulletin News Staff
http://www.worldbulletin.net/economy/148209/cambodia-raises-garment-wage-but-unions-say-not-enough
No boycott: Union meet could decide wage today
Independent labour unions will take part in the Ministry of Labour’s Labour Advisory Committee (LAC) meeting today, possibly making their decision on next year’s minimum wage in Cambodia’s garment sector. NIFTUC and the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) considered boycotting the LAC ...
Sean Teehan
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/no-boycott-union-meet-could-decide-wage-today
Donors meet over new civil servant per diems
Cambodia’s international donors met Tuesday to decide whether they will comply with the government’s recent move to increase the per diem that civil servants receive for attending work-related, out-of-office events. In July, Prime Minister Hun Sen signed off on a sub-decree raising the Daily Subsistence Allowance ...
Paula Brito
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/donors-meet-over-new-civil-servant-per-diems-72133/
Assembly’s finance commission requests more details on budget
The National Assembly’s banking and finance commission met Monday to discuss the proposed $3.8-billion budget for 2015, with lawmakers from both parliamentary parties agreeing that more specific details are needed before they can evaluate the plan, according to the commission’s deputy chairman, Son Chhay. Mr. Chhay, ...
Alex Willemyns and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/assemblys-finance-commission-requests-more-details-on-budget-72034/
CNRP lawmaker to visit site of proposed dam
Opposition CNRP lawmaker Pol Ham on Monday said he will visit the site of a proposed hydropower dam in Koh Kong province on Monday with colleagues from his parliamentary commission before they quiz government officials about the controversial project later this month. If built, the 108-megawatt ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrp-lawmaker-to-visit-site-of-proposed-dam-72038/
Education funds to get bump
The proposed 2015 education budget is inching upwards from last year’s funding, however it still falls short of internationally recommended minimums. Education is slated to take up a $396 million chunk of the $3.75 billion draft budget, which has yet to be approved by the National ...
Laignee Barron and Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/education-funds-get-bump
Cambodia, Japan trade up
Cambodia is quickly becoming a hub for Japanese exports, according to the latest figures from the Japan External Trade Agency, JETRO. The state-run agency’s latest trade figures show Cambodia exported more than $584 million worth of locally made products to Japan over the first nine months ...
Hor Kimsay
http://phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-japan-trade
Finance commission to discuss 2015 budget
The National Assembly’s mixed-party commission on finance will meet Monday to begin discussing the 2015 draft budget, its deputy chairman said Sunday. CNRP chief whip Son Chhay said the CPP-chaired committee would meet this morning to discuss the $3.8 billion budget and plan a meeting with ...
Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/finance-commission-to-discuss-2015-budget-71945/
Info law to be open to input
The Ministry of Information yesterday announced a three-year public consultation period on a new access to information draft law that has been in the works since 2007. But freedom of information advocates greeted the news with scepticism, citing a lack of representation from civil society on ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/info-law-be-open-input
Cambodia receives 3.2 million foreign tourists in Jan-Sep
Around 3.2 million foreign tourists visited Cambodia in the first nine months of the year, a five percent rise from 3.05 million over the same period last year. The majority of tourists came from Vietnam, China, South Korea, Laos and Thailand, Xinhua news agency reported. ...
Bernama News Staff
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=1082990
Protected wetlands urged
A new wetland protected area may be implemented in Battambang province following talks between scientists, Asian governments and conservation groups held in Siem Reap this week. The message seems to have been heard, at least by the Ministry of Environment, which yesterday said it would ...
Taing Vida
http://phnompenhpost.com/national/protected-wetlands-urged
Cambodia plans to open up bidding on 19 petroleum concessions
Cambodia plans to open bids for concessions on 19 onshore oil and gas exploration blocks to promote investment in the sector, a senior official at the country’s Ministry of Mines and Energy said on Wednesday. The Southeast Asian country is also keen to talk with international ...
Khettiya Jittapong
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL4N0SV4F120141105
Official says $200,000 in fines collected from foreigners without work permits
Since a nationwide census of foreigners began in August, fines totalling nearly $200,000 have been paid into government coffers, an immigration official told the Post yesterday. “According to the law, the immigration police can fine them 200,000 riel [about $49] to 500,000 riel and this ...
Cheang Sokha and Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/official-says-200000-fines-collected-foreigners-without-work-permits
Mining official denies graft
Officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy checked on a quarry in Kampot province for the second time yesterday amid allegations it is operating illegally thanks to local corruption. The quarry, which is owned by husband and wife Hok Chhenda and Tep Sokha, was ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mining-official-denies-graft
For failed high school students, an array of options awaits
As about 60 percent of the tens of thousands of students who took the national high school exam—some twice—this year cope with failure, Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said this week the dismal grades would only have a “minor impact” on university admissions and jobseekers. ...
George Styllis and Kang Sothear
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/for-failed-high-school-students-an-array-of-options-awaits-71790/
Anco blamed for flooding
Villagers in Banteay Meanchey province’s Malai district have complained that a politically connected firm owned by one of the country’s most influential businessmen has flooded their homes. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/anco-blamed-flooding
Federal job awaits Pailin chief accused of corruption
The former governor of Pailin province, Y Chhien, has been removed from his positions as provincial council president and president of the Pailin chapter of the Cambodian People’s Party following allegations he was involved in embezzling $400,000 in expenses. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/federal-job-awaits-pailin-chief-accused-corruption
Poor fishing season in sight
Less flooding and illegal fishing activities have dampened estimates for the country’s upcoming fishing harvest, officials and industry representatives say. Due to less flooding, this year’s total catch is expected to equal or even fall short of last year’s total of 700,000 tonnes, Nao Thuok, director ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/poor-fishing-season-sight