Waitresses at a restaurant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Photo: Khmer Times)Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodiangovernment recently announced a measure to assist workers employed in thetourism sector which is severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, it said the government willpay 20 percent of the workers’ minimum wages, adding that the financial measurewill apply to those who are suspended from their jobs at hotels, guesthouses,restaurants and travel agencies.
Payments will be made to employees in thetourism sector with links to the National Social Security Fund.
The workers are required to attend a short trainingcourse by the Tourism Ministry.
In addition, the Cambodian government willprovide tax exemptions to businesses in the tourism sector in the cities ofPhnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kep, Kampot, Bavet and Poipet until May.
Chenda Clais, president of the CambodianHotel Association, said about 650,000 people were employed as hotel staffers,cooks, drivers, tour guides and travel agents but the number has since dwindledafter some businesses suspended operation.
The World Bank has predicted Cambodia’s realeconomic growth will slow to around 2.5 percent this year mainly because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Industry Ministry of Thailandannounced that one million free washable face masks will be sent via post tohouseholds in Bangkok on April 8 as part of the government's strategy to stem ashortage of masks.
In a statement, it said the government willpay 20 percent of the workers’ minimum wages, adding that the financial measurewill apply to those who are suspended from their jobs at hotels, guesthouses,restaurants and travel agencies.
Payments will be made to employees in thetourism sector with links to the National Social Security Fund.
The workers are required to attend a short trainingcourse by the Tourism Ministry.
In addition, the Cambodian government willprovide tax exemptions to businesses in the tourism sector in the cities ofPhnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kep, Kampot, Bavet and Poipet until May.
Chenda Clais, president of the CambodianHotel Association, said about 650,000 people were employed as hotel staffers,cooks, drivers, tour guides and travel agents but the number has since dwindledafter some businesses suspended operation.
The World Bank has predicted Cambodia’s realeconomic growth will slow to around 2.5 percent this year mainly because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Industry Ministry of Thailandannounced that one million free washable face masks will be sent via post tohouseholds in Bangkok on April 8 as part of the government's strategy to stem ashortage of masks.
Thai Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit (second from right, front row) says 2.5 million washable face masks will be shipped every 15 days, with the goal of distributing 10 million masks in total (Photo: www.bangkokpost.com)Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit wasquoted by local media on April 2 as saying that the Thai government will ship2.5 million masks every 15 days, with the goal of distributing 10 million masksin total.
According to the Interior Ministry, Bangkokcapital city is home to 3.05 million households, housing 5.6 million people in50 districts. There will be 1 piece of face mask per person, Suriya said.
The remaining 4.4 million masks will bedistributed to neighbouring provinces, as well as southern provinces like Narathiwat,Yala and Pattani.
Also on April 2, Indonesian President JokoWidodo said the government is considering starting a new national holiday toprevent the annual mass exodus usually occurring at the end of the Muslimfasting month Ramadan amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
At a cabinet meeting, he said that measurescould be put in place during the new holiday such as making tourist attractionsfree to help calm the people.
Nearly 90 percent of Indonesians are Muslim.During the Eid al-Fitr festival at the end of Ramadan, they usually return totheir home villages or towns. Ramadan this year falls over April and May./.
VNA
