Phnom Penh: In the spirit of promoting partnership and understanding the requests and challenges of workers and employees in the workplace, on the morning of April 23, 2026, Mr. Nguy Rith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, held a monthly meeting with leaders of trade union federations at the ministry’s office to provide recommendations for strengthening partnership with the ministry to resolve all issues that arise, especially labor disputes.
During this meeting, the Secretary of State emphasized the importance of social dialogue in order to monitor and grasp all challenges in enterprises, institutions, and factories in order to find effective and timely solutions. In addition to sharing the new policies of the Royal Government, he claimed that this meeting is a bridge to transmit specific information from the ground that helps the ministry ensure the protection of the rights and legal benefits of workers and employees, aiming to increase harmony in professional relations.
Meanwhile, He introduced the Royal Government’s guidelines on preparations for the 140th International Workers’ Day on May 1st under the theme “Together to Build Resilience for Decent Work” under the high chairmanship of His Excellency President Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In addition, he continued to encourage and call on trade unions to cooperate with business owners, companies, and factories to effectively implement this circular by inspiring a joint celebration of this event with the goal of demonstrating the dignity of the elderly and improving the rights and freedoms of workers and the harmony of professional relations: to increase investment attraction and create better and more suitable job opportunities for workers and citizens.
On that occasion, the Secretary of State gave key recommendations, urging union federation leaders to continue to work closely with the Ministry and the provincial and capital labor departments to increase confidence in the culture of resolving labor disputes outside the court system. He called on unions to monitor all signs of problems and report them in advance to avoid protests in the form of demonstrations or illegal strikes that affect public order and labor stability. In addition, he encouraged unions to learn from artificial intelligence (AI) technology to develop their capabilities and strengthen their legal understanding to become constructive negotiating partners.
In response, representatives of the trade union federation made a number of comments and suggestions aimed at making the implementation more efficient and transparent. Expressing their strong commitment to cooperate with the ministry to protect the interests of workers and employers, the union representatives also expressed their deep gratitude to the Royal Government for always providing warmth, especially the provision of free bus services for workers to travel to their hometowns during the New Year holiday. All trade unionists expressed their strong faith in the visionary leadership of President Hun Sen in considering and resolving all problems for the people and bringing progress to the labor sector in Cambodia.
