PM accounts for millions handed to pregnant workers

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday announced the government has spent $13 million to pregnant garment workers since the programme began last year. The government last year started handing out $100 for every baby delivered by garment factory workers. It said its budget was $10 million per year. Mr Hun Sen during a graduation ceremony on Koh Pich Monday said the government so far has spent on 138,091 workers who delivered 139,055 babies January 2018 until December 15, 2019.

He noted 73,521 babies were born from January this year until December 15. “If we compare to 2018, the number of workers who delivered babies increased,” he said. “In 2018, 65,054 workers delivered 65,534 babies.”

“We see the number of workers giving birth increasing – do you know why? This is because of the social protection policy allowing them to receive more benefits. These benefits include three months maternity leave, 130 percent bump to their monthly salary and the government bonus,” Mr Hun Sen said. “Previously, garment workers did not want to have babies, but now they want more children because they will receive benefits from the government.”

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