Labour minister Ith Samheng addresses a workshop on documenting safety and health practices in ASEAN SMEs and the informal economy on October 17. LABOUR MINISTRY
Minister of Labour and Vocational Training Ith Samheng believes that the ASEAN Community should pay closer attention to improving occupational safety and health (OSH) in factories and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the growth of the regional economy.
Speaking at the October 17 opening ceremony of the Documentation Workshop on Occupational Safety and Health in Small and Medium Enterprises and Informal Economies of ASEAN Member States, he said promoting OSH is an important pillar for the bloc’s economic development.
Samheng highlighted statistics from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that identifies SMEs as the largest proportion of the world’s businesses. In ASEAN, they make up between 97 and 99 per cent of total enterprises and employ up to 80 per cent of the labour force.
He said that aside from providing the majority of employment, they make a significant contribution to economic development.
“Both the formal and informal economies play an important role in boosting economic growth, making it more resilient to external influences. At present, the Cambodian government is focused on implementing policies that will support SMEs as well as workers in the informal economy,” he added.
He said the government faced significant challenges in providing services to SMEs and ensuring their compliance with OSH regulations, often due to a lack of education or businesses that existed outside of formal economic systems.
Yang Sophoan, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, said OSH primarily falls under the purview of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Enterprises with a staff of eight or more could join the fund.
She added that while employees who suffer accidents in the workplace or those who fall ill could access healthcare services from state hospitals and NSSF partners, the support remains limited.
She said some partner hospitals provided inconsistent services and there was discrimination against people who used the NSSF card to obtain treatment.
“It is not very efficient, so many workers are forced to use their own money to access healthcare,” she noted.
Sophoan suggested that the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training revise OSH workers through a two-point mechanism.
First, she wants labour inspectors to evaluate working conditions in all factories, to ensure that OSH guidelines are met.
Second, she proposed that services and facilities be improved in the hospitals and NSSF partners.
To address challenges in the SME sector, the government has set out five policies. The first is to promote the role, honour and dignity of entrepreneurs and workers in the informal economy.
The second is to provide additional support, including the provision of health fund cards, vocational training, competency recognition through proficiency testing, participation in the pension system and access to maternity allowances. The third refers to employment support and development through tax policy and registration.
They also intend to better facilitate the business environment of entrepreneurs. Finally, they aim to promote participation in social and humanitarian activities.
