Bonuses for Cambodian civil servants, army personnel delivering babies

Phnom Penh Oct 9 (IANS) Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday announced that the government would provide bonuses to civil servants and armed forces personnel when they give birth starting in January 2018.

Women giving birth to one child will receive $200 while those giving birth to twins will get $400. Mothers with triplets will get $600 said the Prime Minister during a university graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh.

Hun Sen said the Southeast Asian nation has 92 198 female civil servants and armed forces personnel with 10 844 or 11.7 per cent of them having babies each year Xinhua news agency reported.

"From 2018 onwards we will spend about $2.1 million a year to help civil servants and armed forces when they deliver babies " Hun Sen said.

Last month the Prime Minister also announced bonuses to workers in the garment and footwear sector when they have babies beginning in January next year.

Mothers giving birth to one child will receive $100 while mothers of twins will receive $200. Mothers of triplets will get $300.

He said the government would spend about $10 million a year for pregnant labourers because there were about 900 000 female workers with a pregnancy rate of 2.7 per cent or 24 000 workers each year.

The bonuses will be paid through the National Social Security Fund. "This is a new policy on social sector that is carried out by the Cambodian People s Party-led government " Hun Sen said.

--IANS
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