PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Labor has ordered owners of textile enterprises in the textile, garment, footwear and travel products and bags industries to comply with labor laws, warning them of fines if a violation of any priority is found.
In a letter dated Friday, 27 May, the Department of Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor restricted factory owners in the textile, garment, footwear and travel products and bags industries to apply the General Working Conditions, Safety Conditions and Occupational Health conditions of the National Social Security Fund, as well as the maintenance of professional relations in its enterprise. The Ministry has said that if any cases of violation are found, factory owners will be immediately punished by the Labor Inspector in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.
The procedures are divided into five sections, with a total of 31 points that business owners must implement and abide by, including enterprise procedure, which requires business owners to prepare the internal regulations of their enterprise and have it be posted.
The second section details the general conditions of employment that factory owners must abide by, including properly paying a monthly salary, overtime and seniority allowances. Factory owners must ensure that there is no discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace, that female workers have maternity leave, and that workers who are pregnant or give birth will not face forced resignation. In particular, children under the age of 18 should not be allowed to work or go to work at high risk.
The third section is on occupational safety and health conditions that the factory owner must arrange, such as the provision of clean and safe drinking water to workers, setting up an emergency box at the factory, making sure the building's ventilation system is in place and that all emergency exits are safe.
The fourth section is in regard to the condition of the social security system, that the factory owners must properly register their enterprise in the National Social Security Fund, register the workers and properly pay the workers compensation for occupational risk and healthcare.
The last section is on the condition of professional relations, by organizing the election of staff representatives and not forcing workers to join or not join the union.
Factory owners are obliged to declare labor inspections in the automation system twice a year, once before the end of June and once the second time before the end of December.
The Ministry also reminded the owners of the factories that workers in their enterprises must be vaccinated against Covid 19, with the Labor Inspectorate conducting a special inspection to check the data on vaccinated workers.
In case the owner of the factory fails to make a self-declaration report, the labor on a regular basis and refuses to comply with the contents of this notice, he / she shall be fined or punished according to the law and take legal action from the Ministry.
