Phnom Penh (FN), Aug. 29 – Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet gave six priority recommendations to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training in cooperation with relevant ministries/institutions in 2023 for the workers' benefits, speaking on Tuesday morning (Aug. 29).

The six priority recommendations are as follows:

First, striving to facilitate the discussion of the minimum wage increase based on the scientific conditions and criteria set out in the law on the minimum wage before the upcoming Pchum Ben holiday.

Second, preparing urgent legal documents for implementing the National Social Security Fund for health care through voluntary contribution for the members to ease the burden of health care costs for workers and their families.

Third, launching vocational training programs for approximately 1.5 million young people from poor and vulnerable households nationwide and coordinating with stakeholders to allow workers access to learn professional skills to increase productivity and efficiency in the workplace by organizing training sessions at night or on weekends.

Fourth, promoting full implementation of apprenticeship obligations in accordance with the Labor Law, including internships, workshops and skills reorganization, by encouraging the private sector to participate in training their workers and providing additional training to workers who are working to improve skills, increase productivity and the possibility of raising wages.

Fifth, paying attention to the implementation of cash support programs for pregnant women and ensure that pregnant women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) can leave work 15 minutes early.

Sixth, establishing a competition program on the theme of harmony in the workplace to turn an enterprise into a peaceful community from 2024 onwards.

Taking this occasion, Manet also introduced the two years action plan for the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training as follow:

First, collaborating with the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, representatives of employers and workers to jointly study the possibility of establishing nurseries and kindergartens in the factory area with the support of employers and stakeholders.

Second, collaborating with stakeholders to promote the improvement of the factory's eating area or canteen for the workers requires the preparation of the canteen for the new factory to be established.

Third, collaborating with stakeholders to study mechanisms to support and encourage the gradual change of workers' transportation in accordance with technical standards and more comfortable by 2027.

Fourth, promoting the skills recognition test program, which is an opportunity for domestic and foreign workers to have a certificate of skill recognition to show their ability and skill level.
=FRESH NEWS