The Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA) has offered to provide the labour ministry’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health with any training equipment or tools it needs. The assistance will be delivered via the South Korean government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Choi Sangyul, director-general of KOSHA’s Occupational Safety and Health Training Institution (OSHTI), made the offer during a three-day visit to the Kingdom. Sangyul led a delegation to discuss the progress of occupational safety and health through project implementation and capacity building, from May 2-4.

Sangyul said the first purpose of the visit was to establish which equipment and tools would best serve training, within the context of Cambodian industry, according to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training.

“Based on what we have learned, industry consists mainly of garment and footwear factories, along with some vehicle assembly. If the Cambodian safety and health department need to update their equipment, we will help them,” Sangyul was quoted as saying.

He said the second purpose of the visit was to consult on renovations to the former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) headquarters, which will serve as a training centre for OSHTI. As an experienced project implementer, OSHTI will install an electricity network and decide on the best locations for heavy equipment.

The third purpose was related to human resource management. “We need to recruit staff and prepare curriculums ahead of mid-2024, when we will take over the lease at the new facility,” he added.

In late April, labour minister Ith Samheng urged the development of quality medical services that could respond to occupational accidents and diseases, and suggested more people be trained in occupational medicine.

“Making sure high quality, efficient medical services are available at large factories and manufacturing enterprises is an important part of contributing to the prevention and control of occupational injuries,” he explained.