On 24 June 2021, the Arbitration Council Foundation (ACF), in cooperation with the Royal Academy of Judicial Profession (RAJP), convened a Workshop on Labour Dispute Resolution Process, the Arbitration Council and the Court, joined by 52 student judges, through the zoom platform. The workshop aimed at enhancing knowledge of student judges on the procedure of the collective labour dispute resolution, the arbitration process, and the relation between the arbitration council and the court. This workshop was presided over by Mr. Men Nimmith, Executive Director of the ACF and H.E In Bopha, Director of the Royal School of Greffiers, representing the RAJP.
Mr. Men Nimmith, in his welcome remark, addressed the importance of organizing this workshop is to provide student judges opportunities to gain more understanding of the collective dispute resolution procedure, and the relation between the arbitration council and the court, particularly, the arbitral award and the power of the court in enforcing the compliance of award by dispute parties.
H.E In Bopha, in his opening speech, started with the question of Why do we need the alternative labour dispute resolution mechanism, while Cambodia already has the court system? At this point, he emphasized settling through alternative dispute resolution would create a more peaceful environment than the judiciary system in such labour or civil cases. This is the reason that it requires to have the alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
This half-day workshop was facilitated and delivered by Mr. Kong Phallack, Arbitrator of the Arbitration Council, focused on the following topics: 1). Alternative collective labour dispute resolution, 2) Types of labour disputes, 3) Labour disputes resolutions procedures, 4) the Procedure and criteria for arbitrator selection, and 5) the Relation between the arbitration council and the court. Aside from delivering the legal and procedural theories, he shared his practical experiences in resolving labour cases for almost two decades. On top of that, the workshop had engaging discussions as participants have asked various questions about the collective labour dispute procedure, the decision-making process of the arbitrators, and the procedure to enforce or execute the award of arbitration.
It is worth notice that, the Arbitration Council Foundation used to collaborate with the Royal Academy of Judicial Profession to deliver four training for the earlier generation of student judges and court clerks. The ACF, furthermore, will continue its collaboration with the RAJP to provide more training for the next generation of Cambodian student judges and court clerks as a part of the capacity and outreach program for its stakeholders.
