Government
National government
Passport fees to be investigated
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially instructed the Cambodian Embassy in Malaysia to investigate agencies that ask for exorbitant passport renewal fees for workers there, according to a statement released on Friday, though some sources said corruption in the Passport Department itself is part ...
Leonie Kijewski and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/passport-fees-be-investigated
China to buy more Cambodian rubber
China is expected to purchase 300,000 tonnes of rubber from Cambodia in 2018, according to a commerce ministry statement. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40122/china-to-buy-more-cambodian-rubber/
Survey to guide minimum wage talks
The Ministry of Labour has announced plans of a month-long research campaign into the living standards of garment and footwear factory workers prior to setting a minimum wage in 2018. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40136/survey-to-guide-minimum-wage-talks/
Centers in Thailand to grant migrant workers travel documents
The Thai government has agreed to set up stations across Thailand where Cambodian illegal migrant workers can register for documents that will allow them to stay and work in the country, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng said at a news conference on Thursday. ...
Chhorn Phearun and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/centers-in-thailand-to-grant-migrant-workers-travel-documents-132234/
Four tonnes of illegal medicine seized
Anti-economic crime police from the Interior Ministry yesterday seized more than four tonnes of illegal medicine in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40077/four-tonnes-of-illegal-medicine-seized/
Yunnan offers to help tourism sector
The Ministry of Tourism is to collaborate with Yunnan’s Tourism and Vocational Training Institution to develop human resources in tourism and seek the methodology to attract more Chinese tourists to visit Cambodia. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40085/yunnan-offers-to-help-tourism-sector/
Workers fear arrest in Malaysia
Cambodian workers continue to fear arrest and deportation amid an ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers in Malaysia, with local media reporting that 2,000 migrants have been arrested since the beginning of the month as of yesterday. ...
Yon Sineat and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-fear-arrest-malaysia
NGOs warned to comply with law or face action
Interior Minister Sar Kheng took aim at civil society on Tuesday night, warning NGOs to comply with the law or face legal action, at the same time the ministry ordered the ad hoc election monitoring group the Situation Room to cease any future monitoring activities. ...
Ben Sokhean and Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngos-warned-to-comply-with-law-or-face-action-132171/
Cambodian migrant workers return from Thailand
Despite the Thai government’s temporary backtracking on its harsh punishments of undocumented migrant workers, hundreds of Cambodians working in Thailand continued to pour back into their home country yesterday. ...
Leonie Kijewski and Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodian-migrant-workers-return-thailand
Officials help farmers to stop snails snacking on rice fields
The Preah Vihear Provincial Agriculture Department on Monday ordered its staff to help farmers by buying up invasive golden apple snails that are currently destroying their rice fields, according to the head of the department. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-help-farmers-stop-snails-snacking-rice-fields
Microlenders refuse to apply prescribed VAT
The industry body representing the Kingdom’s myriad microfinance institutions (MFIs) threw down the gauntlet yesterday, announcing that its members had categorically rejected a government directive that orders them to charge a value-added tax (VAT) on financial services fees and would not apply it. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/microlenders-refuse-apply-prescribed-vat
Tree planting plan to revive national forests
The Environment Ministry plans to plant 500,000 trees in protected areas across the country this year, to boost forest cover and improve the livelihoods of communities. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39992/tree-planting-plan-to-revive-national-forests/
AMRO forsees stable growth ahead
Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to remain stable this year with inflation rising slightly on increases in the costs of global fuel and food prices, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) concluded following its annual consultation visit to the Kingdom. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/amro-forsees-stable-growth-ahead
Ministries collaborate on eco-tourism policy
he Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment expect to complete a national draft eco-tourism policy by August to coincide with the second National Forum on the Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources, an environment official said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministries-collaborate-eco-tourism-policy
Police chief examining smuggling transferred
Mondulkiri’s provincial police chief has been removed from his post less than two weeks after he spearheaded an investigation into military and police officials accused of involvement in illegal timber smuggling to Vietnam. ...
Mech Dara and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-chief-examining-smuggling-transferred
MEF holds agricultural workshop
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) organised a consultation workshop yesterday to gather information and comments from agriculture sector stakeholders to assist in the preparation of a 2018 national budget that would better support to the sector. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mef-holds-agricultural-workshop
Pig farmers ditch task force to monitor smuggling
A private sector task force set up by Cambodia’s pig farmers to monitor live swine imports and investigate reports of illicit smuggling has been disbanded after receiving a cold reception from government officials, the initiative’s leader said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/pig-farmers-ditch-task-force-monitor-smuggling
Election monitors get warning over law on neutrality
The Ministry of Interior has issued a warning to election watchdogs Comfrel and Nicfec, ordering them to halt their activities that allegedly violate their NGO obligation of neutrality. ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/election-monitors-get-warning-over-law-neutrality
Confusion drives more legal, illegal workers from Thailand
Hundreds of fearful and confused Cambodian migrant workers—including those with legal documentation—are continuing to flee Thailand, workers said on Tuesday, even as both the Cambodian and Thai governments called for calm among the migrant workforce. ...
Chhorn Phearun and Hannah Hawkins
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/second/confusion-drives-legal-illegal-workers-thailand-132138/
Police request over $500k to reward drug-busting officers
The National Police has requested more than $500,000 from the Interior Ministry to fund bonuses for police officers involved in confiscating illegal drugs, officials said on Tuesday. ...
Han Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-request-500k-reward-drug-busting-officers-132140/
Guilty walk free in land sale case
Two Ministry of Mines officials were convicted on corruption charges yesterday in a Phnom Penh court after confessing to selling state land, but nonetheless walked free after a judge reduced their sentences. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/guilty-walk-free-land-sale-case
Drainage upgrades to come amid rains: city
Cambodia will this year experience heavier rainfall than in previous years during an extended rainy season that is expected to last well into December in the coastal and central lowland areas, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology last ...
Jovina Chua and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/drainage-upgrades-come-amid-rains-city
Agro-processing SEZ moves closer to reality
A Chinese firm that plans to invest $2 billion into developing the Kingdom’s first special economic zone (SEZ) dedicated solely to agricultural processing and storage has signed on a new partner to help jumpstart the stalled project, a top agriculture official said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/agro-processing-sez-moves-closer-reality
New commune chiefs sworn in, with CNRP unconcerned about CPP interference
The process of swearing in commune councillors across the country began yesterday, marking the start of their five-year terms in local administration, with opposition commune chiefs saying they were undeterred by Interior Minister Sar Kheng’s comments last week. ...
Touch Sokha and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-commune-chiefs-sworn-cnrp-unconcerned-about-cpp-interference