• Social measure were taken to gradually eradicate slavery pursuant to a
  Decree of February 1, 1898 with completely abolished slavery.
  
  
• The very legal measure to govern the relationship between employers and employees were in initiated under the 1920 Civil Code within which a labor contract was required for the employment of workers.
  
  
• Further detailed regulations on contact-related employment were
  issued in a 1927 Sub-decree to establish:
  

  • a 10 hours workdays.
  • materials requirement for living conditions.
  • A Joint Decree covering Indochina establishment:
  • the labor Inspectorates in 1927.
  • the Reconciliation Committee for individual and collective labor disputes between workers, employees and employers in 1930 and 1932.
    

  In 1936 the Government of Cambodia drafted and enacted 3 laws to Regulate three different categories of people involved in the labor filed:
  

  • the Decree of December 30, 1936 covering Indochinese people and other in the same classification.
  • the Decree of February 24, 1937 covering European and others in the same classification.
  • the Royal Ordinance No 84 NS of May 20, 1938 expanding the coverage to overseas Cambodia.

  
  
  These 3 laws have significantly marked a turning point in the historical Evolution of the Cambodia Labor Law.
  
  

  • The Regulation on liberalized on liberalized agricultural labor taking effect in 1942.
  • In 1947 the Royal Decree 375 NS of October 30, 1947 abrogated the 1938 Royal Ordinance and imposed the implementation of the French labor regulations on Cambodia nationals while Cambodia labor regulations was being drafting.
    
    

  Meanwhile, a Cambodia Inspectorate and a Social Affairs Office were established under the Ministry of Information and Social Affairs.
  
  

  • After the singing the French-Cambodia Treaty on November 8, 1949, French labor inspectorates were officially transferred to the Cambodia Government and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs was establishment in 1951 by a Royal Decree No 651 NS of December 26, 1951.

• The transfer of the administration of the Cambodia courts from the French Administration to the Cambodia Government on August 29, 1953 and the organization of labor services which was establishment and subsequently strengthened. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs was also gradually reorganized. Various other legal documents were also use to broaden the scope of the Labor Law.
  

The year of 1970 saw an important change when the labor administration of the Khmer Republic amended the Labor Law. Several major events of significant importance took place that time, namely:

• The Khmer Republic ratified its membership to the International labor Organization by Decree No 467/71 CE of April 7, 1971 which became effective on February 24, 1969.
• The complete overall of the labor administration through Decree No 701/707 CE of October 31, 1970.
• The determination of detailed responsibilities for technical officials working for the field of labor.
• The establishment of roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Labor Social Affairs and Employment.
• The drafting of a new Labor Law.
• The ratification of various International Labor Conventions.

• One should note that during the period 1975-1979 Cambodia fell under the genocidal Pol Pot regime where all the previous national achievements were completely shattered and Cambodia people brutally massacred.

From 1979 to 1992 some important events took place:

• The Social Affair Committee, an institution equivalent to that of a ministry, was established pursuant to Decision No 07 of October 24, 1979 in order to deal with issues related to social affairs such as: disabled veterans, orphans, windows and indigent elderly.
• The Ministry of Social Affairs and Disabled Veterans was established by Decree No 19 Kr.ch. of March 5, 1985 to supplant the Social Affairs Committee and to take charge of pensions for disabled officials, orphans of Deceased officials, armed force personnel, compensation settlement for Disabled veterans and supplementary income for families or dead soldiers.
• The Ministry of Social Affair and Labor was established by Decree No 53 Kr. Of May 2, 1992 to take additional responsibilities in the labor sector Pursuant to the labor law which was enacted by the National Assembly by Decree No 99 Kr. of October 13, 1992.

• Cambodia has adopted a democratic and multi pluralist policy since the 1993 general election.
• The Law No NS/RKM/0196/17 of January 24, 1996 establishment the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor and Veteran Affairs to be responsible for Three social sectors: Social Affair Labor and Veteran Affairs.
• In 1994, with the kind support of ILO, the French Ministry of Labor, and AAFLI, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor and Veteran Affairs took the Existing 1992 Labor Law and various other labor related documents in Conformance with the 1993 Constitution as a foundation to draft the new “Labor Law” which was subsequently promulgated by Royal Decree No CS/RKM/0397/01 of March 13, 1997.
• The new Labor Law has in many respects completed the old labor law and regulations to make its implementation much more efficient and effective. A particular attention should be drawn on the fact that the 1997 Labor Law allows a great freedom of establishment of trade unions, rights to strike and to lockout, provisions which were not available in previous laws.

Phnom Penh, October 25, 1998

Suy Sem
Secretary of State
Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor and Veteran Affairs