By Kong Sothanarith
Cambodge Soir
Translated from French by KI-Media
The prime minister remains unbent. He is opposing the increase of salary for government workers and garment sector workers which was demanded by the Free Trade Union Workers of Cambodia (FTUWC) and the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association (CITA). The two unions had demanded for several years that the minimum monthly salary be raised to US$ 100 for government workers and no less than $80 for garment workers. Last week, the FTUWC and CITA announced that they will call for a general strike if their demands are not met. “I understand that some people are demanding for a very high salary increase. However, if the government workers salary is increased, we will not have money to build bridges. And if we increase the salary of factory workers, there is a risk that the factory owners will close their shops,” the leader of the government argued last Saturday during a meeting with people living in the province of Kompong Thom. “It is like in a poor family, a child is demands a bicycle, another one demands earrings, and the third one demands a necklace. If the parents say yes, then they will have to sell their house,” the prime minister added. For him, “one must remain sober” in this affair.
This argument did not win over the unions which accuse Hun Sen “of not having the will to answer to the needs of the poor.” “The prime minister is not the only one who knows about the economy. We, the leaders of small unions, we also know how to count and we are sure that the increase we are demanding will not harm the economy of the country. And we are also sure that we cannot live on $45 per month. The government will not be able to reduce poverty if those who work have an empty stomach,” Chea Mony, FTUWC president, retorted.
For the prime minister, the financing for such an increase of salary of government workers would entail a reduction in state investment on infrastructure, and the collection of real estate taxes. Not true, claim the unions. To them, all is needed is a more resolute fight against corruption, and a tax on the “powerful” in order to satisfy this demand without harm on the country.
This argument did not win over the unions which accuse Hun Sen “of not having the will to answer to the needs of the poor.” “The prime minister is not the only one who knows about the economy. We, the leaders of small unions, we also know how to count and we are sure that the increase we are demanding will not harm the economy of the country. And we are also sure that we cannot live on $45 per month. The government will not be able to reduce poverty if those who work have an empty stomach,” Chea Mony, FTUWC president, retorted.
For the prime minister, the financing for such an increase of salary of government workers would entail a reduction in state investment on infrastructure, and the collection of real estate taxes. Not true, claim the unions. To them, all is needed is a more resolute fight against corruption, and a tax on the “powerful” in order to satisfy this demand without harm on the country.
5 comments:
Have you ever heard the MAFIA AL CAPONE share their loots withsomeone else?
AL CAPONE Hun Sen and his family don't make the exception.
We need Eliot NESS SAM RAINSY to chase him.
Hun Sen has said in the past that he cares about the welfare of Cambodians and he wishes to see the brighter future of Khmer children, not just his own.
Hun Sen ought to upgrade Khmer teachers' salaries. That's not much to ask for.
He has said several times that he's so rich that he could spend them in 200-life years.
Then use some of your own wealth to brighten the children's future by spending on Khmer teachers.
That goes the same for many of Khmer officials that have pocketed Khmer national wealth and international funds.
KK
That is no doubt to hear such kind of Hun Sen' speech. It's showed his incompetence for leading Cambodia.
Hun Sen is not leading Cambodians, he slaving, robbing, destroying Cambodians
This is what I hate about Khmer corrupted to teh born and they seem to do it. fark hun sen no need to listen more of ah hun sen just get rid of him.
Post a Comment