Korea Labor Foundation helps Korean firms navigate Cambodia's labor laws

A seminar was held to brief Korean companies operating in Cambodia on changes to local labor laws and industrial safety and environmental regulations.

The Korea Labor Foundation said Thursday it participated in a seminar on "Trends in Cambodian Labor Law and the Labor Environment," hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

The event was organized to help Korean businesses reduce the risk of legal violations and labor disputes by keeping them up to date on changes to Cambodia's labor, industrial safety and environmental regimes and workplace inspection standards. Attendees included Heng Sour, Cambodia's minister of labor and vocational training, officials from the Ministry of Environment, and representatives and HR managers from Korean companies based in the country.

The seminar covered key issues under Cambodian labor law, including employment contracts, contract renewals and seniority pay, as well as recent workplace inspection findings and compliance requirements. Discussions also addressed workplace safety and environmental regulations, violations uncovered during actual inspections, and the impact of global supply chain shifts on corporate labor management.

The foundation introduced its support services for Korean companies operating abroad, including country-specific labor law and labor management information, HR and labor consulting, and local seminars. Starting in December, it also plans to launch an AI-powered overseas labor information service that will allow companies to easily access labor law and labor management information by country.

The foundation signed an MOU with the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (KOCHAM) on Wednesday. The agreement aims to combine the foundation's expertise in labor affairs with KOCHAM's local business network to support labor management and dispute prevention. The foundation also held a roundtable with local business representatives to hear about the difficulties they face in managing HR and labor matters.

On Thursday, the foundation held a separate meeting with Cambodia's Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training to discuss follow-up cooperation measures aimed at helping Korean companies comply with local labor laws and maintain stable labor management.

Park Jong-pil, secretary-general of the Korea Labor Foundation, said the foundation would "provide timely labor information that companies need by leveraging its network of cooperation with local governments, the embassy and business associations, and strengthen on-the-ground support."