Labor
Report shows little sign of improvement at factories
A Better Factories Cambodia report shows little improvement in the continued use of short-term contracts and safety and health conditions for workers at surveyed factories, with total compliance of all exporting factories still stuck at less than 50 percent. The International Labour Organisation’s compliance program conducts ...
Yon Sineat and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/report-shows-little-sign-improvement-factories
Working conditions improving in garment factories: ILO
A report released Tuesday by Better Factories Cambodia (BFC), a programme of the International Labour Organisation, found that compliance in the garment industry with working conditions regulations has improved substantially in the last four year. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103908/working-conditions-improving-in-garment-factories-ilo/
Fishermen still abused in Thailand
Forced labour remains rampant on Thai fishing boats more than three years after an international outcry, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released yesterday, with Cambodian fishermen reporting that Thai reforms designed to safeguard them from abuse are being used as tools to ...
Erin Handley and Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fishermen-still-abused-thailand
First group of maids to Malaysia in June
Cambodia will send a group of maids to work in Malaysia in early June after the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2015.Labour Minister Ith Samheng said he had met with Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dato’ Sri Richard Riot AnakJaem three times already ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103954/first-group-of-maids-to-malaysia-in-june/
Pledge to help illegal workers in Thailand
Speaking during the general department of identification’s annual meeting, secretary of state Prum Sokha said the government would continue to help undocumented workers obtain proper documentation. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103715/pledge-to-help-illegal-workers-in-thailand/
Almost 100 workers faint in Koh Kong factory
Almost 100 workers at the KKN factory in the special economic zone in Koh Kong province’s Mondul Sima district fainted on Tuesday morning while working. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103780/almost-100-workers-faint-in-koh-kong-factory/
Road safety policy planned
The Labour Ministry is planning to launch a national policy to cut the number of traffic accidents involving garment workers being driven to and from factories. The policy will encourage employers and drivers to prioritise road safety. Labour Minister Ith Samheng yesterday addressed a workshop on the ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103746/road-safety-policy-planned/
Labour union sued by factory
The owner of Gawon Apparel factory in Kandal province’s Takhmao city has sued the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union for continuing its protest and has requested Labour Ministry intervention. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50103467/labour-union-sued-by-factory/
More workers to be sent to Japan
Labour Minister Ith Samheng said yesterday said he plans to increase the number of Cambodian trainees being sent to Japan for study and part-time work, noting that about 6,000 have been working in the country since 2007. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102235/more-workers-to-be-sent-to-japan/
Unions and companies alike unhappy with draft changes to law on worker contracts
Both unionists and private sector representatives are unhappy with draft amendments to Cambodia’s Labour Law, which would overhaul the regulations surrounding worker contracts and guaranteed employee protections. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/unions-and-companies-alike-unhappy-draft-changes-law-worker-contracts
Workers to hawk factory machines
More than 500 workers from the Benoh Apparel factory in Meanchey district’s Stung Meanchey commune yesterday agreed to sell the remaining machines in the factory to cover their lost pay after the owner went bankrupt and fled the country. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50101011/workers-hawk-factory-machines/
Garment factory fires nearly 600
Gawon Apparel factory in Kandal province’s Takhmao town has fired nearly 600 staff for breaching a court warrant ordering them to go back to work after months of protest. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100574/garment-factory-fires-nearly-600/
Bid to stop fainting in factories
The Labour Ministry has created guidelines for owners in the garment and footwear industry to prevent factory workers from fainting. Labor Minister Ith Samheng issued an announcement yesterday containing 11 guidelines in an effort to reduce the stimuli causing workers to faint. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100181/bid-stop-fainting-factories/
Garment factory shutters, leaving hundreds unpaid
Garment workers at the Benoh Apparel factory in the capital’s Meanchey district returned to work this week after a two-month suspension to find the building abandoned, prompting a protest demanding compensation from the government. ...
Yon Sineat and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/garment-factory-shutters-leaving-hundreds-unpaid
Free state healthcare extended
The Health Minister has ordered civil servants to prioritise the implementation of new social security services for public officials, former government workers and veterans, which came into force at the start of this year. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099635/free-state-healthcare-extended/
Minister warns unions
Labour Minister Ith Samheng has warned that any registered unions that remain inactive would be dissolved, while at the same time welcoming new unions as long as they respected the law. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099640/minister-warns-unions/
Union claims casino labour abuse
The Collective Union of Movement of Workers has sent a letter to the Ministry of Labour seeking intervention over abusive working conditions for staffers at a casino in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099378/union-claims-casino-labour-abuse/
New worker benefits take effect
A slew of new health and maternity benefits for workers took effect at the stroke of midnight yesterday in a dramatic expansion of the country’s social security framework, even as labour advocates and business experts raised concerns about cost and quality. ...
Yon Sineat and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-worker-benefits-take-effect
Maids depart for Hong Kong as part of new program
Labour officials sent off 14 maids to Hong Kong yesterday in celebration of a pilot program that hopes to funnel up to 1,000 maids to the Asian financial hub despite concerns from rights groups. ...
Yon Sineat and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/maids-depart-hong-kong-part-new-program
Workers protest over ‘RCAF’ factory guards
Roughly 100 garment workers protested again in front of Pou Yuen Enterprise Ltd yesterday amid allegations that the shoe factory hired Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) soldiers to act as security guards for the company. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-protest-over-rcaf-factory-guards
New Thai regulations for migrants hit by delay
New Thai regulations imposing stiff punishments on undocumented migrants, their brokers and their employers set to come into force on January 1 will likely be delayed by three to six months, according to Cambodian Minister of Labour Ith Sam Heng. ...
Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-thai-regulations-migrants-hit-delay
Deadline extended for migrants
The Labour Ministry announced on Friday that the Thai government agreed to extend the deadline for Cambodian officials to complete registration and work permit delivery to Cambodian migrant workers by six months. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5097878/deadline-extended-migrants/
PM dares landlords to get rent hikes from him
Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterated his demand for the owners of garment worker housing to freeze rents in 2018 yesterday, telling the leasers to come to him personally if they disagreed with the order. ...
Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-dares-landlords-get-rent-hikes-him
Protesters to stop blocking road
Garment workers from the Gawon Apparel factory in Kandal province’s Takhmao town have agreed to stop blocking a road leading to the factory for the next 15 days as they await a solution to their labour dispute from the Arbitration Council. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5096984/protesters-stop-blocking-road/