SereyRatanak is educating unions and their members about the benefits of joining the social protection system and for their voices to be heard.

Born in Phnom Penh, Ly SereyRatanak is the Vice President of the trade union at Coca Cola. His journey from being unaware of social protection to becoming a trainer and advocate is inspiring.

Before joining the FIRST project implemented by Coca Cola and Oxfam, Ratanak had little involvement in social work. However, after attending training sessions, he developed a keen interest in labour rights and began participating in various workshops. This newfound passion led him to become a trainer, helping other unions to understand their rights.  

Through the project, unions and representatives of each enterprise can be active in social protection and raising awareness among target groups. Ratanak’s experience as a participant broadened his understanding of union advocacy and the social protection system, boosting his confidence to share his knowledge with his peers.  

Now a trainer, Ratanak is dedicated to extending his knowledge to other employees in his company. “Before, I never know what social protection system was or the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and I never expected I could be a part of educating unions about social protection awareness. The project helped me a lot, and other unions voted me as their representative,” he said.

Ratanak’s goal is to empower the union so that employees know their rights and understand the NSSF, which is crucial for their well-being. To help his company about social protection, Ratanak follows a three-step process: training a group of 20 people about social awareness and how to access NSSF, assigning unions to deal with authorities or relevant sectors to purchase it, and following up with unions to find solutions.  

Despite facing challenges such as low participation and limited understanding among some union members, Ratanak remains committed.

““The big challenge is that the unions themselves are not interested in NSSF; most of them have heard about it, but when I asked, they didn’t know what exactly it was. I made a schedule for them to join a training session, but when it started, some of them didn’t come””

Ratanak

Although many unions failed to participate in the training, Ratank said that the majority of employees in his company already have NSSF. He continues to work with those who do not, raising awareness and improving situation. “They are better; they know how to purchase it, how to use it and the benefits of it, and they spread it to their neighbours. Even though some of them don’t want to participate or understand it, it is still better than before.”

Ratanak has recommendations to ensure that social protection awareness is accessible to all. He encourages citizens to participate in activities such as workshops that train them to understand the importance of social protection including the NSSF and Poor ID cards. “All people should pay attention to things that matter to them, for example, the NSSF. It is really important for them to ensure their well-being. Even though we have to pay money, it still has benefits for us,” he said.  

Ratank also request that the government provide more forums or discussion platforms about the social protection system, giving citizens the opportunity to join, raise their problems, and find best solutions together.”