Phnom Penh: Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Heng Sour said that Cambodia is the only country that has provided temporary additional travel allowances to garment workers in the context of the global oil crisis.
The Minister made this statement at a ceremony to celebrate the 40th anniversary of International Workers’ Day, May 1, 2026, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center on April 26, under the high chairmanship of His Excellency Samdech Maha Parvathipdei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The Minister stated that as the Royal Government’s Chief of Staff, the Ministry of Labor immediately implemented the Prime Minister’s additional recommendations in urgent negotiations with employers and unions and agreed to provide an additional $2.50 temporary travel allowance to ease the burden during the global oil crisis, which will be provided from April until the oil situation returns to normal.
He said: “Only Cambodia has provided additional temporary travel allowance to garment workers and employees.”
According to the Minister, the Royal Government has also reduced and exempted many types of taxes to keep fuel prices as low as possible, even though it will reduce tax revenue by more than 100 million baht during the subsidy period. At the same time, out of concern for workers, the Ministry of Labor has also continued to cooperate with relevant ministries, institutions, and territorial authorities to monitor the setting of room rental fees, water supply connections, water charges, and electricity connections on a regular basis.
