Strike Is Off; GMAC Will Discuss Wages
By Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Free Trade Union and Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association on Thursday called off a general strike that had been set for Monday, after the Garment Manufacturers' Association of Cambodia inked an agreement to discuss wage increases.
A joint statement, signed by GMAC and 11 major unions including the FTU, commits both sides to hold talks in August on wages, strikes, arbitration and the Labor Law.
"The parties have agreed to meet as often as necessary in order to reach an agreement" the statement reads.
A Wednesday letter from GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo to the FTU states that GMAC "acknowledge[s] that the minimum wage has not been set for five years and now is the time to sit and carefully examine the issue. We agree in principle to the demand to fix the minimum wage."
The proposed strike by the Teachers' Association and the Free Trade Union had prompted tensions in the ranks of government, with the Ministry of Labor distributing leaflets in factories on Tuesday warning that the strike could damage the national economy and lead to violence.
CITA and the union have a combined membership of about 78,000.
FTU President Chea Mony said his union distributed leaflets to all factories Thursday telling workers to suspend the strike, which had been called to press for a raise in the minimum wage from $45 to $80.
"We can only suspend the strike. If there is no solution, we will call for another strike," Chea Mony said, adding that he was optimistic that wages would be raised. "If GMAC doesn’t want to raise the wages, they would not send us the [letter]," he said.
Ken Loo declined to comment on whether GMAC would likely increase garment workers' wages. GMAC has pressed this month for the introduction of a night shift, which could entail double wages.
Pro-government Cambodian Union Federation President Chhoun Mom Thol called the agreement "a success for all workers."
"If GMAC continues not to give us raises, we will all join together to go on strike. There will be no union that goes against Chea Mony," he said.
On Wednesday, Chhoun Mom Thol, an adviser to Interior Minister Sar Kheng, called the proposed strike illegal, adding that he had been leafleting against it. He said Thursday that due to inflation, the minimum wage must now be raised.
Morm Nhim, president of the National Independent Federation Textile Union, said she signed the agreement believing GMAC had shown a willingness to raise wages. "We have the discussion first, if it fails, we join together to strike," she said.
Labor Ministry Secretary of State Oum Mean said the government welcomed the FTU's decision. "It will be easier for the government Labor Advisory Committee to define the minimum wage since both sides will already have agreed," he said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the agreement to talk indicated that the FTU is weak.
"[Chea Mony] realized himself that he is isolated. We welcome other union leaders who are politically mature," he said.
GMAC and the unions have both been under pressure from international garment buyers, who have told them they are concerned about the rising number of strikes in Cambodia.
Naurin Muzaffar, a representative of Cambodia's largest buyer, Gap, said her company would not pull out of Cambodia.
"We're monitoring the situation and are hopeful that...all parties will work together to address the concerns of workers as well as the needs of the industry," she wrote in an e-mail.
Kang Chandararot director of the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, said that while wage increases to offset inflation would not hurt Cambodia's ability to attract investors, large increases could make investors choose neighboring countries like Vietnam, where other costs are already lower.
"The agreement to talk is very important for investors considering coming to Cambodia. Many have been looking at what would happen on July 3," he said.
But he added: "Garment workers already earn more than the average Cambodian, so asking for a doubling of wage does not sound reasonable."
According to data presented in April by the Economic Institute of Cambodia, the real wages of garment workers declined over the last two years due to inflation, although pay has remained at $45 per month.
Teachers' Association President Rong Chhun was outside of Cambodia and could not be reached Thursday for further comment on the association's decision.
(Additional reporting by Erik Wasson)
A joint statement, signed by GMAC and 11 major unions including the FTU, commits both sides to hold talks in August on wages, strikes, arbitration and the Labor Law.
"The parties have agreed to meet as often as necessary in order to reach an agreement" the statement reads.
A Wednesday letter from GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo to the FTU states that GMAC "acknowledge[s] that the minimum wage has not been set for five years and now is the time to sit and carefully examine the issue. We agree in principle to the demand to fix the minimum wage."
The proposed strike by the Teachers' Association and the Free Trade Union had prompted tensions in the ranks of government, with the Ministry of Labor distributing leaflets in factories on Tuesday warning that the strike could damage the national economy and lead to violence.
CITA and the union have a combined membership of about 78,000.
FTU President Chea Mony said his union distributed leaflets to all factories Thursday telling workers to suspend the strike, which had been called to press for a raise in the minimum wage from $45 to $80.
"We can only suspend the strike. If there is no solution, we will call for another strike," Chea Mony said, adding that he was optimistic that wages would be raised. "If GMAC doesn’t want to raise the wages, they would not send us the [letter]," he said.
Ken Loo declined to comment on whether GMAC would likely increase garment workers' wages. GMAC has pressed this month for the introduction of a night shift, which could entail double wages.
Pro-government Cambodian Union Federation President Chhoun Mom Thol called the agreement "a success for all workers."
"If GMAC continues not to give us raises, we will all join together to go on strike. There will be no union that goes against Chea Mony," he said.
On Wednesday, Chhoun Mom Thol, an adviser to Interior Minister Sar Kheng, called the proposed strike illegal, adding that he had been leafleting against it. He said Thursday that due to inflation, the minimum wage must now be raised.
Morm Nhim, president of the National Independent Federation Textile Union, said she signed the agreement believing GMAC had shown a willingness to raise wages. "We have the discussion first, if it fails, we join together to strike," she said.
Labor Ministry Secretary of State Oum Mean said the government welcomed the FTU's decision. "It will be easier for the government Labor Advisory Committee to define the minimum wage since both sides will already have agreed," he said.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the agreement to talk indicated that the FTU is weak.
"[Chea Mony] realized himself that he is isolated. We welcome other union leaders who are politically mature," he said.
GMAC and the unions have both been under pressure from international garment buyers, who have told them they are concerned about the rising number of strikes in Cambodia.
Naurin Muzaffar, a representative of Cambodia's largest buyer, Gap, said her company would not pull out of Cambodia.
"We're monitoring the situation and are hopeful that...all parties will work together to address the concerns of workers as well as the needs of the industry," she wrote in an e-mail.
Kang Chandararot director of the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, said that while wage increases to offset inflation would not hurt Cambodia's ability to attract investors, large increases could make investors choose neighboring countries like Vietnam, where other costs are already lower.
"The agreement to talk is very important for investors considering coming to Cambodia. Many have been looking at what would happen on July 3," he said.
But he added: "Garment workers already earn more than the average Cambodian, so asking for a doubling of wage does not sound reasonable."
According to data presented in April by the Economic Institute of Cambodia, the real wages of garment workers declined over the last two years due to inflation, although pay has remained at $45 per month.
Teachers' Association President Rong Chhun was outside of Cambodia and could not be reached Thursday for further comment on the association's decision.
(Additional reporting by Erik Wasson)
2 comments:
AH KHIEU KANHARITH is mentally unstable!
Khieu Kanharith was the gang's member of Indaratevy (classe de troisieme) so he work as a cursor in the computer. Otherwise he really love the young girls.
Warning: If you work with him and you got a beautiful wife please don't allow your wife to sit or stand close to him when he drunk. Why, he never think she was your five............his behaviour is similar as ah kaun sdach peal Ranaridh.
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