"Ministry issues written directive to improve construction safety", 13 January 2020

The Land Management Ministry has issued a directive banning the construction of all buildings without a permit in the Kingdom.

The directive also bans construction workers from living in construction sites.

..., Mr Sophara stressed on the prohibition of workers and people from staying in any building under construction, even temporarily, and of people from entering construction sites...

“There is an absolute ban on all construction, repairs or renovation work without permits,” the directive said. “There is also an absolute ban on people staying in under-construction buildings, even temporarily. People who are not involved in construction work are also strictly prohibited from entering the sites.”...

In the directive, Mr Sophara forbids builders from carrying out construction work or building demolition without a licence or certificate provided by the ministry and prohibits construction work or demolition which are not overseen by responsible engineers.

... Sou Sokhun, director of the Pailin provincial land department, ... said that he had already received the directive from the land ministry.

... Sok Kin, president of the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia, ... welcomed the move, saying the directive will help to reduce untoward incidents.

“I strongly support the new directive because it is a good measure,” he said. “I think this directive was made to handle safety issues after the recent building collapses.”

However, Mr Kin noted that only issuing a directive will not eliminate the problem...