PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, Ith Sam Heng, met with the Director of Global Government Affairs of Walmart, Anbinh Phan, to urge Walmart to expand its product orders from Cambodia to develop new job opportunities and enhance the livelihoods of the Cambodian people. He said this can help develop employment and vocational training in Cambodia. The meeting between the Labor Minister and the Walmart Director of Global Government Affairs was held over online videoconference on Wednesday morning, 22 June.

Minister Ith Sam Heng reaffirmed the Royal Government of Cambodia's commitment to improving working conditions and occupational health and safety for workers, including the protection of rights and freedoms in professional organizations, maintaining the harmonization of industrial relations, providing social protection to workers, and protecting Cambodian migrant workers abroad in accordance with the policies of the Royal Government, national laws, and regulations in force and international labor conventions that Cambodia has ratified.

Regarding the management of Covid-19, the Royal Government of Cambodia encourages and gives priority to workers, including foreign workers in factories, to receive timely and free vaccination against Covid-19, both the base doses and booster shots, without discrimination. In addition, the Royal Government has already launched and successfully implemented a series of 10 intervention measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure the normalization of business, production, investment, employment, and the livelihoods of the workers and those living in poverty.

In response, Anbinh Phan commended the Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training as well as the Royal Government of Cambodia for taking care of the working conditions, especially managing and preventing the spread of Covid-19 to ensure the sustainability of the production chain and the export of Cambodian products abroad.

Walmart is the largest retailer in the world. Founded in 1962, its headquarters is located in Arkansas, United States. The retailer has 2.3 million employees and operates across 24 countries.

Walmart is a leading exporter of clothing, footwear, travel accessories, and seasonal entertainment products. In the future, Walmart plans to import fruits, food products, electronics, and furniture from Cambodia, once these products meet international standards.