The Royal Government will release another $12 million in assistance for jobless workers as factories remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training spokesman Heng Sour said that about 110,000 workers from 344 factories and firms in Cambodia have received unemployment benefits.

The ravaging COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to hundreds of thousands of workers in the garment and service sectors, especially tourism and hospitality which involves 620,000 individuals.

The ministry in partnership with Wing Specialized Bank will update the workers to receive their assistance after their information is registered successfully.

A total amount of $2.4 million were transferred to Wing accounts between May 28 and June 3, Mr Heng Sour noted.

According to the World Bank, COVID-19 is putting at least 1.76 million jobs in Cambodia at risks, driving the country’s unemployment rate to nearly 20 percent. VNA