The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has announced a seventh-round of subsidy payments for 12,000 suspended workers.

Minister Ith Sam Heng made the announcement at the committee for strike and demonstration resolution (CSDR) meeting on Tuesday. He said the CSDR at cities and provinces must pay attention to solving problems and be more efficient and effective.

Sam Heng said 12,760 suspended workers from the textile and tourism sectors will receive a subsidy payment.

A ministry notification said the subsidy payments are still divided into three categories. If work was suspended from seven to 10 days, workers are eligible for a $15 payment.

Workers suspended from 11 to 20 days are eligible for about $30 and those suspended for 21 days to a month can receive $40.

Ministry spokesman Heng Sour told The Post on Tuesday that subsidy payments have so far reached 169,161 workers. The government has paid suspended workers some 16 billion riel ($3.9 million).

“The government has decided to use the national budget to solve the difficulty of workers in the garment and tourism sectors who are suspended due to Covid-19. Because the suspension of their work was in different periods, subsidy payments are also different,” Sour said.

Sam Heng also used the opportunity to make clear that CSDR is responsible for directing and resolving strikes and demonstrations in any geographical area.

“Particularly, there is a need to grasp the root causes of the problems, the evidence and the face of the opportunists who incite or act illegally.

“Efforts must be made to protect the security and safety of the workers who strike and demonstrate legally. In case there is violence, [CSDR] must take action,” Sam Heng said.

He also stressed the need for ongoing Covid-19 education at workplaces and the consequences of the disease. Sam Heng said government measures are to facilitate the normalisation of business and improve the lives of workers, poor citizens and the vulnerable.