The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Authority has begun sharing the legal requirements concerning the employment of foreigners with large businesses in the province and called for all business owners to obey the law.

As the distribution campaign began on January 24, provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun noted that the laws were being widely disseminated as part of phase one of the Inter-Ministerial Commission to promote foreign labor inspections’ six-month action plan. From January until March, the commission will seek to ensure that ignorance of the law is no longer an excuse.

“To help us prepare for phase two, the inspection of all establishments that employ foreigners, the owners or directors of all such companies must prepare a list of foreign employees and submit it to the provincial administration before March 15,” he said.

Chamroeun said the inspection phase will last from April until June.

“We will not tolerate those who break the law, and will take swift legal action should we discover any evidence of wrongdoing,” he said.

He issued instructions to the provincial Department of Labour and Vocational Training to invite the owners of all businesses in the province to collect the legal documents and study them thoroughly.

During the campaign launch, provincial labour department director Yov Khemara gave a presentation on the procedures for applying for annual work permits, legal requirements for foreign workers and fines and penalties.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng issued a January 20 call for all government institutions to work together to implement the inter-ministerial action plan.

“During the inspection, if any cases of suspected human trafficking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking or other crimes are found, the joint inspection team must immediately report them to the Capital-Provincial Unity Command and the Inter-Ministerial Commission to take action,” he said.