VOA Khmer
More negotiations planned ahead of minimum wage decision
Labor officials say they plan to put together an ad hoc group to discuss the contentious minimum wage for factory workers as they move toward a final decision next month. The announcement Tuesday came after meetings between Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng and Ker Sovannaroath, ...
Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/more-negotiations-planned-ahead-of-cambodia-minimum-wage-decision/2483320.html
US retailers express support for Cambodian living wage
As a new round of Cambodian wage negotiations approaches this month, major U.S. and European retailers who source from the country say they will be watching the talks carefully and want to see fair pay for workers. Representatives of the brands like Gap, Levi Strauss, and ...
Kimseng Men
http://www.voanews.com/content/us-retailers-express-support-for-cambodian-living-wage/2470747.html
Foreign minister defends Cambodia’s rights record
Shortly after a speech in New York by US President Barack Obama, in which he applauded the efforts of human rights defenders, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong says his country is making progress. Obama acknowledged the work of two Cambodian rights activist during a speech at ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/foreign-minister-defends-cambodia-rights-record/2468925.html
UN address focuses less on Cambodia than international issues
Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong addressed the UN’s General Assembly on Monday, in a speech that focused more on the threat of the Islamic State and international conflicts than it did on Cambodian issues. Hor Namhong told the Assembly that Cambodia supports joint international efforts to ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/un-address-focuses-less-on-cambodia-than-international-issues/2467446.html
US activists disappointed with opposition in Cambodia
Cambodian human rights and democracy activists in the US have split opinions on the deal cut between the ruling party and the opposition in July, ending a political deadlock that had lasted since the July 2013 elections. ...
Pin Sisovann
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/us-activists-disapponted-with-opposition-in-cambodia/2452967.html
Cambodia arrests 11 in China dam protest
Authorities in western Cambodia have detained 11 activists after they tried to stop further studies for a planned Chinese-built dam. About 30 local villagers and environmental activists in the Areng Valley went to the area Monday to protect barricades they had erected earlier this year to ...
Kimseng Men
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-arrests-11-in-china-dam-protest/2450828.html
Cambodia takes measures to detect Ebola virus in travelers
As the deadly Ebola virus continues to plague parts of western Africa, Cambodia has since August put in place detection measures at its international airports and border crossings to screen for several diseases. ...
Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/cambodia-takes-measures-to-detect-ebola-virus-in-travelers/2442400.html
Factory at center of January strikes under review
The Yakjin Trading Corporation, a South Korean company whose factory was at the center of major demonstrations earlier this year, has begun a review of its operations. ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/factory-at-center-of-january-strikes-under-review/2439828.html
Cambodian Opposition Gets Parliamentary Commission Roles
This week lawmakers from Cambodia’s opposition party are being voted onto 10 parliamentary commissions. This is a key part of a political deal in which the opposition finally agreed to take its 55 seats in parliament, ending its year-long boycott over alleged vote-rigging in the ...
Robert Carmichael
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodian-opposition-gets-parliamentary-commission-roles/2428215.html
Economic growth has come at high cost, experts warn
Experts say that Cambodia’s economic growth remains fragile and unsustainable, bringing environmental degradation, social inequality and, at times, unrest to the country. Cambodia has maintained a high economic growth rate in recent years, up to 8 percent, “but that high growth comes with high costs,” said ...
Khoun Theara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/economic-growth-has-come-at-high-cost-experts-warn/2427241.html
Drug-resistant malaria spreads in SE Asia
On Thailand’s border with Myanmar, also known as Burma, a malaria research and treatment clinic is stepping up efforts to eliminate a drug-resistant form of the parasite before it spreads abroad. Artemisinin medicines have been highly effective against malaria when used in combination with other drugs. ...
Steve Sandford
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/drug-resistent-malaria-spreads-in-southeast-asia/2425740.html
Hun Sen Calls Rights Worker ‘an Idiot’
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday lashed out at the rights group Adhoc, angered by comments rights workers have made about land grabs in recent years. During a speech in Phnom Penh, Hun Sen called a rights worker from the group “insolent and an idiot.” ...
Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/hun-sen-calls-rights-worker-an-idiot/2423347.html
Three Opposition Activists Remain in Detention After July Violence
Rights groups are calling for the release of three opposition activists who have been held in detention since violent clashes with security forces in July. The activists have been held despite a political deal last month between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/three-opposition-activists-remaon-in-detention-after-july-violence/2422001.html
Citizen Journalists Move To Establish Wider Network
Around 80 citizen journalists from around Cambodia held a meeting in Phnom Penh Wednesday, in a first-ever networking event for a new kind of reporter in the country. Professional journalists and other media professionals joined the event, sponsored by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media and ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/citizen-journalists-move-to-establish-wider-network/2422037.html
Groups Call for Term Limits for Prime Minister
Local NGOs are urging the new National Assembly to pass term limits for the prime minister, to prevent a “dictatorship” in Cambodia. Prime Minister Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia in some capacity for 30 years, but following discussions in Phnom Penh, rights groups and development NGOs ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/groups-call-for-term-limits-for-prime-minister/2418677.html
Protesters Clash With Police Outside Premier’s Home
Hundreds of housing rights protesters and evictees clashed with security forces outside Phnom Penh on Monday, leaving at least nine people with minor injuries. The clash was one of the first since major violence over Freedom Park in the capital in July. Protesters gathered outside the National ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/protesters-clash-with-police-outside-premier-home/2417160.html
Sam Rainsy Assures Supporters of Opposition’s Dedication
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy told supporters Friday that the goal of his party remains the same: to change the current regime. The president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party has worked to assure his supporters that the party is working for change, following a political deal ...
Heng Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/sam-rainsy-assures-supporters-of-opposition-dedication/2414505.html
Thai Sugar Company Accused of Rights Abuse in Cambodia
A Thai sugar company with major shares in Cambodian sugar cane is being investigated for human rights violations in operations along the border between the two countries. The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand recently investigated allegations that villagers were forced from their homes to make ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/thai-sugar-company-accused-of-rights-abuse-in-cambodia/2411955.html
City Hall meets evictees to discuss compensation
Phnom Penh city officials on Tuesday for the first time met face to face with former residents from the Borei Keila neighborhood, who have regularly protested since their forced evictions in 2012. Phnom Penh Governor Khun Sreng said the forum will work toward sorting out “real ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/city-hall-meets-evictees-to-discuss-compensation/2410789.html
Ban lifted from Freedom Park
City Hall has lifted the ban on public assembly at Freedom Park, which was at the center of opposition protests over the last year and the ignition point for violent clashes that led to the arrests of a handful of opposition lawmakers. Shortly after the clashes, ...
Heng Reaksmey and Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/ban-lifted-from-cambodia-freedom-park/1973078.html
Eight dead in widespread flooding
Cambodian officials say flooding across 12 provinces has left at least eight people dead. The flooding has been caused by major rain due to Typhoon Rammasun, which has hit coastal China hard. Authorities say they expect the waters to recede in coming days, making this year’s ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/eight-dead-in-widespread-flooding/1972045.html
Cambodia Urges China Visa Restrictions
Cambodia says it has asked China to restrict the number of visas it issues to single Cambodian women, to prevent the brokering of marriages to Chinese men. The appeal comes as an increasing number of Cambodian women are finding their way into Chinese marriages and becoming ...
Thida Win
http://www.voanews.com/content/cambodia-urges-china-visa-restrictions/1971535.html
Opposition Members Summoned Back to Court
Eight opposition members have been called back to court, facing lingering charges of insurrection and incitement as Cambodia’s dueling political parties continue to fine tune details of an agreement last month. The seven lawmakers and one assistant for the Cambodia National Rescue Party were released on ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/opposition-members-summoned-back-to-court/1971167.html
Group urges political parties to focus on reform details
A group of NGOs is urging Cambodia’s two main political parties not to rush the election reform process. Instead, the Electoral Reform Alliance says the ruling party and opposition should ensure they have completed the reform process before they open a National Assembly session, which would ...
Kong Sothanarith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/group-urges-political-parties-to-focus-on-reform-details/1968845.html