South Koreans In Safety Deal for Cambodian Migrant Workers

KHMER TIMES
MOM KUNTHEAR

Officials from both sides sign the agreement. Supplied

The government and South Korea signed an agreement yesterday on the occupational safety and health of Cambodian workers in three different sectors.

The signing ceremony of the 3rd Technical Cooperation Agreement on Occupational Safety and Health was held yesterday between the Labor Ministry and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency for 2017-2019.

Labor Minister Ith Samheng said after the ceremony that both parties would expand cooperation by focusing on three important sectors.

First was the industrial sector and the emphasis on a safe work environment, sanitation and a safety system in the workplace. It would also focus on the transportation of workers and ensuring the safe use of liquid chemicals.

Mr. Samheng said the second sector was construction where the South Korean side would share experience to ensure labor safety on construction projects. He added that the third sector was mining without going into detail.

“The agreement shows that South Korea is still paying attention to Cambodia, especially hoping to improve the relationship between both countries in the future,” he said.

He added that through the agreement, South Korea would provide technical aid and offer short training courses for Labor Ministry officials to study in South Korea. Experts would also be sent to Cambodia to give training courses.

Mr. Samheng added that both parties would exchange information on sanitation systems, health protection and labor safety for workers.

Moeun Tola, the executive director of the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights, told Khmer Times yesterday that he had not seen the signed agreement yet.

He said that if workers were placed in South Korea through a government-to-government system, it would be better than using a third party or recruitment agent.

“The Cambodian government should negotiate to remove the condition that prohibits migrant workers from joining a union and allow a change of employers if he or she is facing abuse or exploitation,” he said.

Mr. Tola added that the government should consider amending the election law to set up polling stations in countries with large numbers of Cambodian migrant workers either at the consulate, embassy or in provinces near the workers’ place of employment.

He said the government should make sure there is no corruption in terms of recruiting and placing workers through the system.