At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday, the Council of Ministers approved a “fundamentally necessary” draft law to improve standards in the construction sector.

The draft law, meant to strengthen the management of building projects, contained 22 chapters and 111 Articles.

The body of the draft law directs authorities to be involved in regulating construction techniques, materials, equipment used, and issuing of permits for construction, repair and demolition of buildings.

It also outlined a public investment programme from 2020-2022 and a self-evaluation draft report on the UN Convention against Corruption (UNTAC) in Cambodia.

“The bigger, higher and more complex, construction [becomes], it increasingly demands proper standards to be applied, including legal and technical standards and regulations to ensure durability, quality, beauty and sustainability,” a Council of Ministers press release said.

The statement said the draft law was in line with the Rectangular Strategy Phase V which outlines the government’s vision for Cambodia to become a developed nation by 2050.

Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction spokesman Seng Lot told The Post that indispensable management was required for Cambodia’s “booming” construction industry.

“Buyers and developers in the construction sector will benefit together [from the draft law]. In the past, we have had sub-degrees and laws prepared to manage land in the sector. Now we have prepared a draft law on construction,” said Lot.

He said the draft law had been submitted to the National Assembly to be reviewed and approved.

“It is a good thing that we have the law to manage the construction sector in Cambodia, but for the law to be properly applied, it needs the participation of all stakeholders in the construction sector, including buyers and investors to minimise the risk for everyone,” said Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association president Chrek Soknim.