The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training is promoting the establishment of model village/communes free of child labour and the continued assessment of children’s educational progress, especially regarding brick and tile-making and the agro-industrial sector.
The initiative was encouraged by ministry secretary of State Suos Rathavy — representing labour minister Heng Sour, who chairs the National Committee to Counter Child Labour — during a November 27 ceremony to distribute study materials, transportation means, and seeds to children and target families who have been protected from child labour exploitation in brick and tile kilns and agro-industrial workplaces. A total of 60 children, 32 of them girls, from Stoung and Santuk districts, Kampong Thom province, received support.
“The secretary of state urged the continued monitoring and evaluation of children’s educational progress to ensure their sustained schooling; cooperation with capital-provincial child-labour committees and local authorities to designate model villages/communes free of child labour; and promoted sustainability in sectors free of child labour in certain districts,” explained a November 30 ministry release.
The ceremony was conducted under the “Core Intervention Project”, a government-launched programme implemented by the ministry. The project aims to reduce and eliminate the worst forms of child labour by providing educational opportunities, helping children continue schooling through pre-schooling support programs, improving child well-being with food assistance, and providing study materials, including clothing, shoes, bags and transportation support.
Rathavy noted that investing in children today is an investment in the future. She stressed that eliminating the worst forms of child labour is a top priority that requires joint commitment and active participation from all stakeholders.
She also encouraged the dissemination of information on preventing child labour across all public platforms and community forums. In cases of suspected child labour, the public is urged to report it immediately through the Hotline 1286 or anonymous complaint boxes.
Eighty children from target families in similar project areas in Sotr Nikum, Banteay Srei and Kralanh districts in Siem Reap also received contributions from Rathavy.
The Prey Veng provincial labour department also distributed study materials and transportation support to children who had been saved from engaging in child labour in brick kilns, under the 2025 Core Intervention Project, on November 27.
Department director Nop Savath said the department has implemented the Core Intervention Project since 2024, over a two-year period (2024–2025), assisting a total of 100 vulnerable children (45 girls). Among them, 100 children (45 girls) have been prevented from entering child labour, and 90 children (40 girls) continue to receive protection, according to the Ministry of Information.
Through its 2025 budget, the department received funds to implement interventions for 90 children (40 continuing support and 50 newly prevented cases) across five target districts: Preah Sdach, Peam Ro, Svay Antor, Kanhchriech and Sithor Kandal.
“Through interviews and assessments, 90 vulnerable children (45 girls) working in brick- and tile-making industries were included in the Core Intervention Project, receiving educational support, study materials and transportation assistance,” he said.
For 2025, the department and local authorities have collected data and conducted interviews with 60 vulnerable children living around 18 brick-making sites in the five districts. From this group, 50 have been identified as target beneficiaries for core interventions.
Deputy provincial governor Lat Phirun stated that the Core Intervention Project is part of broader social interventions to prevent children from falling into hazardous forms of labour or workplace dangers, and to protect or rescue children in situations where they face occupational risks or child labour.
He added that core interventions rely heavily on social protection mechanisms for children, such as providing access to education, vocational skills training and livelihood-creation programmes for children and their families.
On behalf of the labour minister, undersecretary of state Veng Heang stated during the event that, with the consideration of the Royal Government — under former Prime Minister Hun Sen and current Prime Minister Hun Manet — the ministry has continued receiving budget packages to implement the project. The implementation aims to prevent, protect and support children in brick-making and tile-making industries and ultimately eliminate the worst forms of child labour in Cambodia.
He added that the government prioritises reducing child labour through five priority actions. They are preparing and updating policies, frameworks, national action plans and legal documents related to eliminating child labour and its worst forms, promoting education and awareness on eliminating the practice and strengthening law enforcement through labour inspection measures, complaint mechanisms and interventions.
They also include core interventions to eliminate child labour and strengthen cooperation among government institutions and expand partnerships with development partners and organisations to eliminate the practice.
