By Ek Tha
PHNOM PENH, 6 March 2013 (PRU) – His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister
Sok An said on Wednesday that Cambodia sees the role of commercial,
social and labour chambers as important to support its growing economy
by settling disputes. Thus any contribution of legal training in such
issues is welcomed.
Speaking in the meeting with Mr. Gilles Bélier, who is a partner of
leading international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Dr. Sok
An said that Cambodia is amending some articles to allow the existing
courts of Cambodia to establish commercial and labour chambers to
resolve disputes.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Chairman of the Council for
Legal and Judicial Reform, said that Cambodia’s judges need to be
trained in the laws of commerce and labour and related issues that will
help in dealing with the issues.
“Today we do not have judges who have expertise in dealing with
commerce and labour issues, so the Royal Academy for the Judicial
Professions needs to find ways to train judges to work in those areas”,
said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Bélier, who is a prominent labour lawyer in France, shared his
experiences with Dr. Sok An, saying that Cambodia should be cautious
since France has had some difficulties with the issues.
He said that Cambodian judges and legal experts should be trained to
understand the laws of commerce and labour as well as related issues
such as economic regulation and law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Bélier suggested that Cambodia establish a mechanism that allows
parties to a dispute to have room for negotiations for a solution.
Cambodia is also looking to set up an office of administration within
the existing courts to facilitate the work of prosecutors and judges and
move cases along faster. This is a lesson from the Extraordinary
Chambers within the Courts of Cambodia, where an office of
administration is in place. End