The Labor Ministry says that it is investigating fresh allegations of widespread child labor at the country’s brick-making factories, but claims to have found no evidence as of yet.

The ministry made the announcement...hours after the release of a new report by local rights group Licadho exposing the widespread and systemic use of child labor and debt bondage by brick factory owners. Both practices are illegal under Cambodian law and subject to stiff prison sentences in the case of debt bondage...

“The ministry has also created a special working group to investigate cases in each brick factory along National Road 6A [and] National Road 1 around Phnom Penh,” he said. “So far the ministry has not found any case raised by Licadho.”

The spokesman said the ministry would “seriously punish” factories found to be putting children under the age of 15 to work.

However, neither the statement nor the spokesman said anything about punishing factories for employing children under 18, which is also illegal in cases of hazardous work (Licadho says brick factories qualify, having found some cases and several reports of severe injury to adults and children alike).

The ministry also failed to mention debt bondage, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years...