Government offices and all schools in Phnom Penh will close from Monday to Wednesday next week to accommodate the Asean Summit, Minister of Cabinet Sok An decreed last week.
“We are concerned about traffic and security—we are concerned about everything,” said Minister of Education Tol Lah. Private and international schools will also be ordered to close, he said.
The summit next Monday and Tuesday will attract delegations of 200 or more from 14 countries. Many schools and ministries are located along Norodom Boulevard, which will be used often by motorcades carrying delegates.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said last week that closing schools will reduce the potential for traffic jams.
The decree states that “officials, civil servants, ministries, institutions and students of all establishments in Phnom Penh” will have the days off. Government staff who serve immediate needs are excluded, the decree states.
The decree does not mention businesses. Businesses and markets are not affected by the decree, Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara said Monday.
Some international school directors said Monday that they are still considering whether to comply with the order. The British-run International School of Phnom Penh will close, said Neva Sok, a school administrator.
The order specifically states that factory workers will not have the days off “so as not to affect the country’s economic productivity.”
Garment workers reached Monday generally said they did not mind having to work during the summit. But some suggested that they should receive extra pay.
“[The factory owners] should pay more money for our work on the days of the Asean meeting, because we will still work even though civil servants and students have the day off,” said Nhem Chenda, an employee at the Ee Kheng factory in Stung Meanchey commune.
(Reported by Kuch Naren, Kay Kimsong, David Kihara and Richard Sine)
