Any factory or manufacturing enterprise that does not register its workers as members of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), or fails to pay the contributions of its registered employees, will face legal penalties, warned a senior NSSF official.
Heng Sophannarith, deputy director-general of the NSSF and spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, delivered the warning while addressing a group of journalists who were attending an NSSF training course.
The March 21 workshop, held under the theme “Towards strengthening social accountability in the Cambodian social protection system”, was organised by OXFAM in Cambodia and the NSSF, in collaboration with local media outlet Thmey Thmey.
He recommended that if workers were uncertain they had been registered, they should contact the NSSF or labour ministry by calling the 1286 or 1297 hotlines, which are open 24 hours a day.
“When we receive a call, our team will record their names and then visit the factory or workplace. If our social security inspectors determine that a business is hiding workers, or not paying contributions, they will be fined,” he said.
He also appealed to all members of the fund to download the NSSF app, as they can use it to see if regular contributions are being made. They can also see what NSSF services, if any, they have accessed.
“This mobile app is very important. You can use it to make certain that your employer is making all of the payments they are required to. Some bosses pay one month, and then miss one month. If so, alert us through the hotline and our team will take action,” he said.
Sophannarith asked each of the journalists who participated in the training to use their newfound knowledge to share the details of the NSSF system more widely.
Phean Sophoan, country director of OXFAM Cambodia, said this was the second time that the international NGO and NSSF have worked with Thmey Thmey to provide training to journalists, in order to make sure they have an in-depth knowledge of the Kingdom’s social security systems.
“Journalists continue to play an important role in disseminating government policies and activities to the public,” she said.
Lay Sopheavathy, a Thmey Thmey reporter, said she has taken part in several outreach programmes to learn about the various social protections that are available. By attending this latest training course, she said she has become more aware of the social protection system.
“Today, we have learned more about it and will share the details with our readers, especially workers and people in the informal economy,” she said.