OSH Day: More than 1,500 People Die Annually in Cambodia Due to Work-Related Accidents

By Chea Sophal

April 30, 2012

Preah Sihanouk Ville:  Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, organized the World Day as well as marking the National Day for Occupation Safety and Health (OSH) at Work on 30 April 2012, in Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, Preah Sihanoukville Province (the seaside province of Cambodia).  ILO was established in 1919 and it formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment. 

The ILO/MoLVT Press Release indicated that MoLVT with the support from the ILO would organize the event on the theme of “Promoting and Health in Small and Medium Enterprises” as an effective measure to promote safe and healthy workplaces” while the global theme focusing on “Promoting Safety and Health in a Green Economy”.  The Press Release emphasized that OSH is a grave issue in Cambodia due to the fact that every year more than 1,500 Cambodians died as a result of work-related accidents and around 3,000 Cambodian people contract work-related diseases on a yearly-basis.  The ILO estimates that each year two million men and women die from work-related diseases and accidents – a death toll averaging some 5,000 workers a day. 

As their main duties to ensure the occupational safety and health at work, the Department of Occupational Health and Safety conducted inspections to 837 enterprises for hygiene and safety condition for 1,442 times in 2011.  The Department checked up the health for both Cambodian and foreign workers of 132,159 (101,376 female), of those 129,227 are Cambodian and 2, 932 are foreign workers.  In collaboration with CARE organization and DWA, the AIDs Committee of MoLVT helped set up AIDs Committees in 47 enterprises according to MoLVT Annual Conference, Summary Report on Achievements, 2010-2011.

Photos Collection for the Event on World Day for Occupational Safety and Health at Work in Sihanouk Ville Special Economic Zone, Preah Sihanoukville Province, Cambodia:

Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) employes around 5,000 workers within its current 20 shoes/footwear and electronic factories according to the General Manager of the Zone.

Workers Walked in the Rain to the Event Platform on April 30 morning to take part the celebration of OSH Day at Work.

Mr. Jiyuan Wang (Right, First line), Director of. International Labour Organization (ILO) for the Country Office of Thailand, Cambodia, and Lao, attended the event.

His Execellency Vong Sauth Presiding the World Day for Occupational Safety and Health at Work at SSEZ.

Labour Official from MoLVT helped conducting a rapid assessment on OSH Day with the work participants.

ILO Representatives (from left to right), Tun Sophorn, National Coordinator of ILO Cambodia, Jiyuan Wang, Director of ILO, and Undraa Suren, Programme Manager of ILO SPG Project.