Labour Dispute Resolution in Cambodia - Phase III (CMB/00/M50/USA)

Desk Officer:
CTA:

In the past years, the Cambodian economy has gradually changed from central planning to market forces. However, the transition exists in law but not yet fully in practice and it has not been accompanied by the development and implementation of a corresponding labour relations system. Of particular concern is an increase in the number of individual and collective disputes in Cambodia, and the generallack of capacity to prevent, resolve and settle them, in spite of the existence of a suitable legal framework. Many disputes unnecessarily escalate and cases of violence and destruction of property have been reported.

ILO's Labour Dispute Resolution Project is aimed at assisting the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Vocatinal Training and Youth Rehabilitation (MOSALVY), in cooperation with employers' associations and union movement, in the development and implementation of a comprehensive system for the prevention and resolution of labour disputes.

The Project assists MOSALVY in developing a policy on labour dispute prevention and resolution, in the establishment of transparen, fair and expeditious dispute procedures and in the building of capacity to resolve disputes at the earliest possible stages.

The Project's activities focus on the following three areas:

• Dispute prevention (amongst others: capacity building of MOSALVY, development of a statistical database on labour disputes for MOSALVY, training of Labour Inspectors, dissemination of public awareness materials, training of employers' and unions' representatives on workplace labour relations and dispute prevention and resolution, introduction of a model Grievance Procedure and enterprise level).
• Conciliation (amongst others: training of MOSALVY's conciliators).
• Arbitration (amongst others: establishment of an independent tripartite Arbitration Council in consultation with social partners; establishment of a Secretariat that provides administrative support for the Arbitation Council, training and mentoring of arbitrators; training of employers' and unions' representatives and other stakeholders on arbitration procedures, dissemination of public awareness materials).

The Arbitration Council started operations on 1 May 2003. Its arbitral awards, as well as background information on the Council and relevant regulations are available online: www.arbitrationcouncil.org. The ILO's InFocus Programme on Promoting the Declaration has further information on this project.