Cambodia allows 3 days off for workers to cast ballots on July 28

Cambodia allowed all workers to take a three-day holiday in order to cast their ballots on July 28, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Labor on Tuesday. "All staff and workers at factories, enterprises and institutions in cities and provinces are allowed to take a three- day holiday on July 27-29 in order to vote for the fifth five-year term of the National Assembly on Sunday, July 28," the statement said. The country has about 700,000 employees working in 890 large- scale factories, mostly garment and textile factories, and 40,000 small-sized enterprises, according to the government figures. Eight political parties will compete in the elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters. Two main parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by Sam Rainsy. Hun Sen's party is widely expected to win the majority in the forthcoming polls. In the last election in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group totally gained 29 seats.