Cambodia to deploy free vaccination for garment workers
The Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has called for preparations for vaccination of garment workers, as the government prioritised them in the list of people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Phnom Penh (VNA) –The Cambodian Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has called forpreparations for vaccination of garment workers, as the government prioritisedthem in the list of people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In a letter sent to the Garment Manufacturers Association inCambodia (GMAC), Minister Ith Samheng asked GMAC to work with garment factoriesto make a list of medical staff (one doctor from each factory) to get training forCOVID-19 vaccination.
"To protect the health of garment workers and employees as wellas for the benefit of factories from the COVID-19 infection, the governmentwill conduct a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for free of charge to garment workersand employees in the near future," read the letter.
Additionally, the ministry asked the factory owners to inform togarment workers and employees over the campaign and the vaccination is madebased on a voluntary basis.
Cambodia has been conducting a nationwide COVID-19 vaccinationcampaign after receiving 600,000 doses of China-made Sinopharm and 324,000doses of India-made AstraZeneca via COVAX mechanism.
More vaccines are going to arrive later this month and beforethe Khmer New Year in April.
According to the ministry’s letter, the COVID-19 vaccinationwill be made at the factories as the ministry asked the owners to prepare avenue for the vaccination work.
It also asked factories to allow a paid day-off for workers andemployees after getting their doses.
Currently, GMAC has about 600 factories as members.
By the morning of March 24,Cambodia had recorded 1,817 COVID-19 cases, of them 1,033 have recovered fromthe disease./.
The Cambodian Ministry of Health on March 16 reported an additional 105 COVID-19 cases linked to the "February 20 community incident", bringing the total to 915 in less than a month.
A working delegation of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia handed over donations to Cambodians of Vietnamese origin living in lockdown areas in Kandal and Prey Veng provinces on March 14 and 15, where over 150 COVID-19 cases have been found, including 10 Vietnamese-Cambodians.
The National Police under the Interior Ministry of Cambodia have planned to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the upcoming Khmer New Year in April, the context of increasing number of infections in the country.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) 
