Cambodia Holds Tripartite Consultation on Draft Law for Occupational Safety and Health with ILO Support

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened the second tripartite consultation on the draft Law on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) on August 8th at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel. The workshop was presided over by H.E. Heng Sour, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training and Chairman of the National Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. Approximately 200 participants, including representatives from ministries, relevant institutions, national and international partner organizations, employers, and workers, gathered to consult and gather additional input to ensure the law is comprehensive and aligns with Cambodia's context and ILO standards, thereby promoting OSH and sustainable labor market development. H.E. Heng Sour stated that through the Cambodian government's high attention to improving OSH, the Ministry has developed the Labour, Social Security, and Vocational Training Development Strategy Plan 2024-2028 and is implementing the third OSH Master Plan 2023-2027. This aims to build a safety culture in the workplace, moving towards the vision of "a proper OSH management system in every workplace to eliminate occupational accidents and diseases." He emphasized that the draft law synthesizes over 20 existing declarations and legal instruments. Its creation is a direct and timely response to the government's commitment to achieving high labor productivity, international economic competitiveness, and driving national economic growth. Furthermore, the law clearly indicates that Cambodia is in line with many ASEAN countries that have already adopted similar legislation. For Cambodia, the upcoming adoption and implementation of this law will demonstrate a commitment to ensuring OSH compliance in line with global trends and international labor standards, particularly in promoting the monitoring of human rights and environmental (HREDD) related law implementation. During the event, he highlighted the Ministry's consistent adherence to the tripartite mechanism, stating that good and comprehensive laws emerge from tripartite dialogue with equal, open, and honest participation. This second national consultation represents a significant step forward in re-verifying key points that have been revised and jointly agreed upon. It addresses whether the amended provisions are synchronized with economic changes, balance worker protection with the burden on employers, and conform to international standards set by the ILO, especially Conventions No. 155 and No. 187. H.E. Heng Sour urged the workshop participants to be open-minded, accept constructive criticism, and engage in discussions based on data, evidence, and technical expertise to find common ground acceptable to all parties. To achieve the strategic objectives, he recommended reviewing specific articles and legal language, defining inter-ministerial responsibilities, and transferring detailed provisions to sub-legal instruments, while keeping the core principles, main obligations, and general framework within the law itself. He expressed strong confidence that the spirit of cooperation and the rich experience of the participants will lead to historic results, and the law will serve as a solid foundation ensuring that Cambodia's economic development does not come at the cost of workers' health. Concurrently, Mr. Tun Sophann, National Coordination Officer of the ILO in Cambodia, H.E. Oknha S. Kinal, Vice President of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), and Mr. Ly Vichith, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions "Sofomongkol" and Vice Chairman of the National OSH Committee, expressed their support and gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Labour for organizing this important draft law and providing an opportunity for discussion among all stakeholders. They noted that this reflects increased attention to worker safety and health, aligns with ILO values, promotes international competitiveness, and contributes to the movement of "One Enterprise, One Peaceful Community."