Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) recently issued Prakas No. 018/20 for the Postponement of Seniority Indemnity Back Payments for Periods before 2019 and Postponement of Seniority Payments in 2020.

Under this new measure, which took effect on June 2, 2020, both the issuance of seniority indemnity back payments for periods before 2019, and the issuance of seniority payments for 2020, have been delayed until 2021. Therefore, through the end of this year, employees who are employed under unspecified duration contracts will not receive payments associated with these programs.

Nevertheless, if any employment contract is terminated by the employer at any point prior to 2021, the terminated employee will be entitled to their seniority back payment for the period prior to 2019, as well as seniority payments for 2020. However, these payments do not need to be made to the employee if the employment contract was terminated due to the employee’s resignation or due to any acts of serious misconduct by the employee.

The measure is in accordance with the Labor Law of Cambodia and with the Guidance of the Royal Government of Cambodia on Additional Measures to Support the Private Sector and Workers Seriously Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and to Recover and Promote Economic Growth after the End of the Pandemic, Round 3, dated April 7, 2020.

For more information on these delays, or on any aspect of employment law in Cambodia, please contact Tilleke & Gibbins’ Phnom Penh office at [email protected] or +855 23 964 210.