Cambodia enacts regulation to cover nightlife workers under labor laws

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia has enacted a regulation to protect nightclub hostesses and other adult entertainment workers under laws that protect other workers' labor rights.

A joint statement from the labor and tourism ministries said Wednesday the regulation seeks to address problems faced by such workers, including poor occupational safety, violence, sexual harassment and excessive working hours.

The regulation specifies that such workers have rights under laws recognized for more conventional industries but often not applied to a sector that is often treated more as informal labor.

U.N. International Labor Organization Asia-Pacific director Yoshiteru Uramoto said in a statement the move was groundbreaking for daring to deal with a sector for which most governments fail to provide adequate protection.