Cash assistance on way for suspended workers

THE Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has announced the extension of cash transfers to garment workers at several factories whose contracts have been suspended.

The ministry announced on February 5 that it will provide cash handouts at 14 factories, as part of the government’s 18th round of social support measures, initiated late last year. It instructed all eligible individuals to check for a notification from its partner Wing Bank.

The factories are located in Phnom Penh, as well as Kandal, Kampong Cham, Takeo, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.

The workers whose contracts have been suspended from seven to 14 days will receive payments of 81,000 riel ($20), while those whose contracts have been stalled for 15 days to a month will collect 162,000 riel ($40).

Ministry spokesperson Kata Orn said on February 5 that between April 1, 2023 and February 5 of this year, the government had provided cash payments handouts to a total of 153,928 workers, in excess of 24 billion riel (over $5.8 million).

Workers are notified via phone message when the cash is available. Funds which are not collected within 21 days of receiving the notification from Wing Bank will be returned to the government

“If an eligible worker does not receive a notification, they should ensure the contact details held by their factory’s administration are up to date, or contact us,” said the ministry.

Marn Seng Hak, president of the Federation Union of Labour Influences (FULI), said the payments serve as a valuable subsidy, but warned that due to rising commodity prices, they may not be enough to support an individual’s living costs.

“The payments were first begun in 2020, during the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the years since, employees who are still working have seen their wages increase each year, so those whose contracts have been suspended should also be paid extra money,” he said.