Cambodia: Enforcing Mandatory Retirement to Open Up Jobs for Younger Workers

According to an article in the Phnom Penh Post by Kay Kimsong, Hun Sen issued a directive on January 12 calling for the retirement of all male officials over the age of 60 and all female officials over the age of 55, in accordance with laws that have been on the books in some form since 1994. According to supporters, enforcement of the mandatory retirement rules will lead to new ideas and reduce civil servant corruption.

Thus, for example, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said more opportunities for corruption materialise the longer employees stay in the same job. Sieng Rithy, chief of the education and advocacy unit for the Khmer Youth Association, said enforcement of the directive would enable a new generation of employees to shape policies.

Source: The Phnom Penh Post "Young workers stand to gain from rule on retirement age" (February 3, 2009)