PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, Ith Sam Heng, has expressed satisfaction over Cambodia being a leading country in implementing decent work programs.
Cambodia has achieved three main priority goals from 2019-2023: employment development and enterprise; strengthened and expanded social protection; and improved industrial relations and labor rights.
The Minister of Labor made these remarks at the opening ceremony of the tripartite workshop on the annual review of decent work programs in Cambodia from 2019-2023, held at the Phnom Penh Hotel on Wednesday morning, 29 March 2023. A total of 130 representatives of relevant ministries, institutions, employers, trade unions and the International Labor Organization (ILO) participated in the workshop, along with a number of online participants.
Minister Ith Sam Heng thanked all stakeholders, especially the ILO, for contributing to the achievement of fruitful socioeconomic development in Cambodia. He particularly highlighted the protection of rights and people’s benefits, including the provision of services to citizens, employers, workers in both the formal and informal economy and Cambodian workers abroad. The Minister said efforts to improve working conditions, rights and freedoms; harmonize professional relations, vocational skills and employment; and provide social protection, all contribute to the Royal Government’s work to rehabilitate and accelerate Cambodia's economic development in 2023, which is expected to grow by 5.6%.
Minister Ith Sam Heng emphasized that the decent work program implemented in Cambodia from 2019-2023 also supported the implementation of Phase 4 of the Rectangular Strategy Phase, which is the Royal Government’s main socio-economic policy agenda under the National Strategic Development Plan (2019-2023).
This work is supported by a number of other policies, including the Cambodian Industrial Development Policy 2015-2025 (IDP), the National Employment Policy 2015-2025 (NEP), the National Social Protection Policy Framework 2016-2025, and Cambodia's Sustainable Development Target Framework 2016-2030, which together provide a policy framework for the next decade of socio-economic development in Cambodia.
"The important thing is to link the appropriate work program with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, to help Cambodia achieve the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," said Minister Ith Sam Heng.
