AKP Phnom Penh, May 13, 2026 —
As climate change intensifies, Cambodia is taking unprecedented steps to shield its workforce from rising temperatures and mounting psychological pressures—hazards the Royal Government now calls a "strategic investment" in the nation’s economic future.
At a major ceremony this morning marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Labour & Vocational Training Minister H.E. Heng Sour declared that protecting employees from heat stress and mental health struggles is no longer just a matter of compliance, but a cornerstone of national productivity and business resilience.
The event, held at the Royal Group Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone and attended by some 1,300 stakeholders, carried the theme: “Protecting Workers from Heat Stress and Promoting Mental Health at Work.”
“Climate change is inflicting global harm on both the environment and human health—and Cambodia is not immune,” H.E. Heng Sour warned. He announced that the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training is drafting a dedicated Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) law, aligned with Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet’s directives, to formally guard against thermal and psychological risks.
Key Measures Announced: The ministry is fast-tracking OSH laws and strengthening inspections to meet international standards, particularly ILO Conventions 155 and 187; A pilot automated system will soon track real-time levels of heat, toxins, odors, and humidity inside factories, replacing manual reporting with objective data; Workers can anonymously report safety violations via the “1286” hotline or QR code systems—without fear of retaliation.
Representatives from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), garment industry body TAFTAC, and the National Union Alliance Collective (NUC) pledged joint action.
The Minister closed with a direct call to factory owners: establish functional Health and Safety Committees. “Addressing heat and mental health is foundational to the quality of life for Cambodian workers—and to the resilience of our entire economy,” he said.

By K. Rithy Reak