Phnom Penh (FN), Mar. 15 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted key activities and measures of the new mandate Royal Government in the past six months. The Royal Government introduced six priorities policy programs for immediate implementation in 2023 and also introduced five key measures to improve and accelerate some reforms.

The premier spoke on Friday (Mar. 15) during a weekly cabinet meeting at the Peace Palace.

The six priorities policy programs are as follow:

First, expansion of the social security system and the Health Equity Fund for a total population of 6.8 million people, of which: (1) There are more than 2.1 million members of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) both the compulsory and voluntary regimes; (2) Equity fund for 490,000 vulnerable families, equivalent to 1.8 million people; (3) Equity Fund for poor households (poor 1 and poor 2) has 700,000 families, equivalent to 2.8 million people; and (4) extended social security coverage to the informal economy for more than 100,000 people.

Second, provision of vocational and technical training for 1.5 million youths from poor and vulnerable families nationwide. So far, we have 27,894 youths enrolled. They received free training and a monthly allowance of USD70 280,000 Riels.

Third, establishment of the National Social Assistance Program for poor families, vulnerable groups in poor families and vulnerable families during the economic crisis and emergencies. The family package, which will be implemented from next April, will gradually withdraw from the cash fund program for poor and vulnerable families during the fight against COVID19.

Fourth, promotion and improvement of an informal economy development. We have established the Informal Economic Development Coordinating Committee and are working on action plans and data collection mechanisms with stakeholders to identify and fundamentally evaluate informal economy-related data before proceeding with the development of the relevant informal economic registration system in the future. In this sense, we can set clear target to help the actual need.

Fifth, establishment of the coordination mechanisms and financing programs aimed at boosting production, marketing and stabilising main agricultural prices. We have established a joint working group to coordinate the value chain of agricultural products and have developed mechanisms and procedures for issuing and using funds, credit requirements, and repayment mechanisms.

Sixth, deployment of agricultural technical officers in all communes nationwide. To this end, we have successfully implemented first step: the recruitment of 250 agricultural technical officers, and this first batch has been deployed in some communes nationwide, and we have targeted another 800 communes for the second batch in April 2024.

In addition, the Royal Government also introduced five key measures to improve and accelerate some reforms.

The five key measures are as follow:

First, key measures for public administration reform. In the past six months, we have completed many task, including (1) Recruitment of civil servants according to the new procedures issued by the Sub-Decree on the Implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on the Recruitment of Civil Servants for the purpose of improving the system Recruitment of civil servants; (2) Preparation of guidelines on reviewing and analysing the functions and operations of public administration in order to strengthen the capacity and achievement of institutions; (3) Preparation of collective data and incentives to support achievements in ministries, institutions and sub-national administrations with the goal of improving the system; and (4) Preparation of the draft action plan for 2024-2028 for the implementation of key measures for Public Administration Reform.

Second, key measures for education reform. In the past six months, we have completed many tasks, including (1) Establishment of the National Committee to promote the implementation of key measures and the Secretariat of the Education Reform Commission; (2) Selection of 50 target primary schools in nine province/capitals for the first phase of the implementation, adding two extra hours of extracurricular activities, including discipline, ethics, behaviour, volunteer/community work, community and pagoda participation; and (3) Awaiting official announcement for the implementation of the project.

Third, key measures for the health reform. In the past six months, , we have completed many tasks, including (1) Establishment of the National Committee to promote the implementation of key measures in health sector; (2) Updating health workers at referral hospitals Level 1 and Level 2 in order to determine the need for officers for recruitment and deployment to ensure 24/7service; and (3) Review of the possibility of increasing budget for the essential medications, including those for high blood pressure and diabetes.

Fourth, key measures for the promotion of Safety village commune/Sangkat Policy. In the past six months, we have completed many tasks, including (1) Restructuring of the National Anti-Drug Authority; (2) Launching of the 9th campaign to combat illegal drugs and the establishment of the Campaign Implementation Command; (3) Issue of zero-tolerance order for the fight against drugs in ministries-institutions, sub-national administrations and armed forces; (4) Immediate termination and dismissal of civil servants, national police officers and soldiers, as well as contracted officials who were found to be in use or involved in illegal drugs; and (5) Announcement to stop issuing new gambling licenses, ban unlicensed existing gambling venues, and conduct evaluation meetings.

Fifth, key measures for the strengthening of the justice system. In this work, we have completed many tasks, including (1) Establishment of the National Authority for Dispute Resolution outside the Judiciary (ECCC); (2) Launching of two campaigns to promote and expedite the settlement of cases in the courts and to investigate and resolve irregularities in the courts; (3) Reorganization of the Steering Committee for Judicial Reform; and (4) Establishment of the Steering Committee for Legal Reform.
=FRESH NEWS