Rent control law being ignored
The government is failing to enforce, or even make landlords and tenants aware of, the new rent-control law, even as rents begin to creep up in anticipation of garment workers receiving their annual wage raise next month, labour advocates say.
The legislation, which went into effect in August after being publicly pushed for by Prime Minister Hun Sen in a February speech, requires landlords to negotiate prices with low-income tenants – like students and garment workers – then sign an agreement to lock in the price for two years. The pacts must be endorsed by the local commune chief.
