Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Ministry looking to close pension gap for officials

Ministry looking to close pension gap for officials

A policeman directs traffic in Phnom Penh in December. The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced that it is looking for solutions to equalise pensions for officials.
A policeman directs traffic in Phnom Penh in December. The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced that it is looking for solutions to equalise pensions for officials. Pha Lina

Ministry looking to close pension gap for officials

The Ministry of Social Affairs is looking for ways to bring old pension plans into line with pensions offered to more recently retired government workers.

Minister Vong Sauth said at a meeting on Wednesday there was a gap between pensions for those who had retired in previous years and those who had retired more recently.

He said that the gap was due to the Kingdom having had different pension programs in the past. But adjusting the pensions of older retirees to match those of newer retirees would be difficult.

“We need time because we will need a large budget for that,” he said. Roeun Rithyroath, the bureaucrat in charge of pensions at the ministry, declined to reveal figures on older pension plans versus newer plans. He also declined to say how much money would be needed to adjust the lower pensions.

“We cannot answer, unless we get permission,” he said in a message. “This is the ministry’s policy.”

San Chey, executive director of accountability watchdog ANSA-EAP, said his organisation welcomed equity in pensions as they had differed “from year to year”.

“It will be helpful, but currently we still see issues with corruption and mismanagement of the national budget,” he said.

The national budget would increase if the government tackled those two issues and improved its tax collection, he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.