The Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia, Maria Amelita C. Aquino, recently paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Minister of Labour and Vocational Training of Cambodia, H.E. Heng Sour. Both officials discussed existing mechanisms for cooperation and potential areas of collaboration between the two nations, and in the wider ASEAN region.

Ambassador Aquino conveyed her congratulations to Minister Heng on his recent appointment and highlighted the longstanding collaboration between the Philippines and Cambodia in the fields of labor, employment and social security. She further commended the efforts of the Cambodian government in promoting fair labor practices and ensuring the welfare of the foreign workforce in Cambodia.

In response, Minister Heng conveyed his appreciation for the visit and lauded the positive contributions made by Filipino overseas workers in Cambodia. He also acknowledged the importance of fostering strong bilateral cooperation in the field of migration, and how shared goals between the Philippines and Cambodia in ASEAN facilitates the protection of their respective migrant workers and the promotion of their welfare in third countries.

Both officials exchanged views on potential areas of collaboration, with Ambassador Aquino offering dialogue and the Philippines’ best practices in labor policies and the protection of migrant workers, skills development, and capacity building.  She noted the trainings conducted by the Social Health Insurance Academy (SHIA) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhlHealth) for Cambodian officials from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to learn more about the social security health insurance system of the Philippines and its best practices.

They also explored enhancing further cooperation through joint initiatives and common positions in ASEAN and other multilateral fora, particularly on the protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of migrant workers. (END)