International experts from the InternationalLabourOrganization (ILO) will be visiting north eastern Cambodia this week to organize the Organization’s first occupational safety and health training session for officials in that region.

Approximately 30 provinciallabourofficials, agricultural extension officials, workers and employers from six provinces(Kampong Cham, Kratie, Prey Veng, Mondul Kiri, Ratanak Kiri and Stung Treng) will attend the four-day course in Kratie town, from Tuesday February 27^th to Friday March 2^nd. The training will be led by Dr. Tsuyoshi Kawakami, ILO Senior Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Specialist, who is based at the ILO Subregional Office for East Asia in Bangkok .

The course will cover safety and health techniques that have been specially developed for use by small farmers, workers on small construction sites, and home workers. The methods focus on practical, low-cost, quick solutions to safety and health problems, using local materials. The techniques are based on three tried-and-tested ILOprogrammes; WIND, which focuses on small farmers, WISCON, which is designed for small construction sites, and WISH, which targets home workers and small businesses.

By attending the workshop the participants will qualify as safety and health trainers themselves. They will have their first opportunity to pass on their new skills on the last day of the course, when, under ILO expert guidance, they will give their first tutorials.

“The north eastern region of Cambodia is now facing rapid development, and when the renovation work on National Route Seven is complete, there will be efficient road connections through this area, linking Phnom Penh in the south directly to Laos and China in the north,” said Mr. Tun Sophorn, Focal Point for the ILO training, who will assist with the workshop. “New business, construction projects and agricultural enterprises are being started every day. The time is right to extend OSH training to this part of Cambodia ”.

“These techniques are already helping Cambodian workers in other parts of the country stay safe, healthy and productive. I am confident that they can be just as valuable here. Our message is that good safety and health practices are good for workers and good for business,” Dr Kawakami added.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Tsuyoshi Kawakami                                                                          
Occupational Safety and Health Specialist
ILO Subregional Office for East Asia
Tel. (66-2) 288 1743 or (66-89) 939 6891
e-mail

Mr. Tun Sophorn
Focal Point for the Training
ILO Better Factories Cambodia
Tel:  (855-23) 212 847 ext 129
e-mail