The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has extended the deadline for foreigners engaged in any kind of occupation in Cambodia to apply for or renew a work permit or employment card to May, with no fines to be applied until the revised due date.

Labour minister Ith Samheng said in a March 28 notice that due to the ongoing spread of Covid-19, especially the new Omicron variant, a large number of foreigners who were granted work permits or employment cards in 2021 have not applied for renewal.

“The Ministry informs all owners or directors of factories, enterprises and companies that employ foreigners that the due date for application for extensions has been extended until 31 May 2022, with no fines applicable for those foreigners whose paperwork was in order for 2021,” it said.

Newly arrived foreigners must complete documents in accordance with the law.

William, an Indian man who has worked in Cambodia since 2018, told The Post that the ministry’s decision was good news, as some foreigners had stayed through the pandemic and could not yet return home.

“It’s a sensible measure, because it gives us more time to renew our documents. Many of us have experienced difficulties requesting new passports, for example, because borders were closed and we could not return to our own nations. This will make our lives easier,” he said.