Labour Minister Ith Sam Heng yesterday publicly endorsed Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bid for 10 more years in power, an apparent sign of support for the premier, despite his party suffering heavy losses in the past two election cycles.

The minister, a central committee member for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, made the comments at the latest instalment of the premier’s weekly speeches to workers in the Kingdom’s more than 700,000-strong garment sector.

The speeches, on Sundays and Wednesdays, began last month, with the prime minister attempting to court the demographic as next year’s national election approaches.

Speaking to some 4,450 workers from 82 factories on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich, Sam Heng praised the government’s record in the sector and said the premier had the ministry’s support in 2018 and beyond.

“We all will support the Prime Minister, Hun Sen, in the sixth and seventh mandates as the Prime Minister,” Sam Heng said in video clip uploaded on his Facebook page.

During his own speech, the premier – who last Wednesday vowed to serve at least two more five-year terms at Cambodia’s helm

Attendee Buth Bunchheang, a pro-government union representative, said he welcomed the pledges but awaited their delivery. “We will monitor those who are responsible for the implementation and see whether the promises will really be enforced,” he said.