Heads Up: Immigration Check NGO Guesthouse and Catholic Church for Foreigners Working in the Provinces
Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2019 3:43 pm
Cambodia Breaking News (Kampong Cham): On June 25, 2019, the General Lieutenant Kang Vuthy, led the immigration authority to inspect the foreign workers in four worksites in Kampong Cham.
These inspections differ from the normal "crackdowns" on illegal immigrants in that they are all small businesses, employing mostly women, and there are only 1 Chinese and 3 Vietnamese among those inspected. Notably different from usual is the fact that all those inspected had legal visas and work permits. 1 British national was among those questioned by the authorities.
Right, so if everyone's papers were in order, what's the story then ? Well, in this case, as well as a bank and a tailor shop, the authorities inspected the workers at the local Catholic church, as well as a guesthouse and restaurant MOON RIVER, which is run by a Buddhist NGO*. The Catholic church had 4 foreigners working there legally, and Moon River has a British national working there, also legally.
*Moon River Guest House and Restaurant is a family run business which is cooperated with Social Enterprise of BSDA. BSDA (Buddhism for Social Development Action) is local non-profit organization that currently found by even of Buddhist and run by ex-monk based in Kampong Cham province. Moon River is located along Mekong River in Kampong Cham which is very quiet and relaxed and clean.
HEADS UP.
This is a reminder to foreigners working in small businesses such as bars, restaurants and guesthouses, or in NGOs, that you must have a valid visa, and most of the time you should have a work permit. If you don't know if you need a permit, then find out. If you are not Cambodian and you are "working" somewhere, you probably need a work permit, and the authorities are now doing checks in the provinces, including smaller towns. As a foreigner, living and working in the countryside does not make you invisible to the authorities, quite the contrary.
Kampong Cham Work permit inspections and results
1. Sacombank in village 4, Sangkat Veal Vong Kampong Cham City. The owner, Ny Naren, had 16 workers (6 women, 1 Vietnamese who had a passport, used E visa).
2. Yu Sieng Nam Tailor shop in village 7, Kampong Cham. The owner, Hem Nareth, 60 Cambodian workers (52 women).
3. Moon River guesthouse and restaurant in village 10, Kampong Cham. The owner, Hour Cheamey, had six workers (3 women, 1 British who had a passport, used E visa and had the work permit.
4.Catholic Church in village 1, Sangkat Veal Vong, Kampong Cham. The owner, Chea Chantha, woman, had 12 workers(8 women); 8 Cambodian workers (6 women) and four foreign workers (women). 1 Chinese, 2 Vietnamese and 1 Indian, all had passports, used E visa and work permit.