Ministry of Labor Issues Guidelines to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases in the Workplace

Phnom Penh: On February 26, 2025, the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training issued guidelines on promoting healthy living behaviors of workers in enterprises along with points to be reduced and points to be done by workers for good health and to avoid non-communicable diseases

Referring to Chapter 8 of the Labor Law and legal regulations related to occupational safety and health, as well as health measures to reduce the main risk factors of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training would like to inform all owners or directors of enterprises, establishments, and workers that in order to promote the well-being of workers against non-communicable diseases, owners or directors of enterprises, establishments, and workers must implement the following measures:

1. Owners or directors of enterprises and establishments must arrange for primary examination and treatment services at their enterprises and establishments for their workers.

Promote training and education of workers on the necessity of healthy lifestyles in order to avoid non-communicable diseases caused by unhealthy diets, lack of physical activity including exercise, use of tobacco products, and harmful use of alcohol.

Broadcast audio or video educational messages and post information boards about non-communicable disease prevention measures at locations where workers can easily see, hear, and read, such as at entrances and exits or in production buildings, meeting rooms, infirmaries, cafeterias, or eating places.

Sufficient hygienic drinks must be provided to workers and it is strictly prohibited to bring alcoholic beverages into the workplace or give them to workers during working hours. Take measures to regularly monitor the well-being of workers and encourage workers to adopt healthy lifestyles, such as practicing a healthy diet, exercising enough, avoiding the use of tobacco products, and reducing the use of harmful alcohol.

2. Workers: Consistently implement occupational safety and health measures in terms of work behavior and health measures on healthy lifestyles Implement a healthy diet by reducing the use of salt (including fish sauce, soy sauce, chili sauce, chili, chili powder, soup powder, snail oil), sugar, fat (animal fat or processed fat) or oil when cooking or eating food, Reduce the consumption of salty foods such as pickles or marinades, sausages, chili sauce, dried fish and other fermented foods

-Reduce the consumption of sweet drinks and foods high in sugar
-Minimize alcohol consumption
-Avoid the use of tobacco products such as cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and cigars, etc.
-Drink at least 2 liters of clean water per day
-Eat fresh vegetables, fruits and grains instead of packaged foods, fast foods or processed foods that are high in sugar, salt, fat or oil

-Eat some foods such as boiled or steamed, avoid fried foods that use animal fat or processed fat.
-Participate in regular physical activity through playing sports such as football, badminton or basketball and/or regular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day such as brisk walking, running, swimming, cycling, dancing, weight lifting, aerobics, yoga, etc.

The Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training strongly hopes that all owners or directors of enterprises, establishments and workers will effectively follow the contents of this guideline.