By Yun Samean and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Free Trade Union and Cambodian Independent Teachers' Association, which together claim to have 78,000 members, have called for a general strike on July 3 to demand higher salaries.
FTU President Chea Mony said his organization wants the minimum wage in garment factories to be raised from $45 a month to $80.
CITA President Rong Chhun said that his group wants a $100 monthly base salary for the country's teachers.
Together, the men wrote a letter on Wednesday to inform Minister of Interior Sar Kheng of their intention to strike.
"According to the Labor Law, the workers have the right to go on strike. I am confident that we can hold the strike," Chea Mony said. "The current average salary now is not enough for the workers."
Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia Secretary-General Ken Loo called the union demands "ridiculous."
"How can you ask for a doubling of salary? They should use their common sense," he said.
Ken Loo said that GMAC does not take the prospect of a general strike seriously. "I dont think this is really a threat," he said.
Rong Chhun said that teachers need at least a $100 salary, and that the government must force petroleum companies to charge less than 2,500 riel per liter for gas.
Education Ministry Secretary of State Pok Thon said CITA's demands for $100 salaries are not possible with his ministry's budget.
"This is up to the Finance Minister and also the head of government to judge if it is possible," he said, adding that the ministry does not really know if CITA could pull off the strike.
"We really don't know if they will be able to do it how many members they have or how dissatisfied they are," he said.
He said that the ministry has been working hard to see if a 5-percent raise would be possible on top of a 15-percent raise given last year to teachers.
Progress has also been made in reducing the months it now takes for first-time teachers to get onto the government payroll.
FTU President Chea Mony said his organization wants the minimum wage in garment factories to be raised from $45 a month to $80.
CITA President Rong Chhun said that his group wants a $100 monthly base salary for the country's teachers.
Together, the men wrote a letter on Wednesday to inform Minister of Interior Sar Kheng of their intention to strike.
"According to the Labor Law, the workers have the right to go on strike. I am confident that we can hold the strike," Chea Mony said. "The current average salary now is not enough for the workers."
Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia Secretary-General Ken Loo called the union demands "ridiculous."
"How can you ask for a doubling of salary? They should use their common sense," he said.
Ken Loo said that GMAC does not take the prospect of a general strike seriously. "I dont think this is really a threat," he said.
Rong Chhun said that teachers need at least a $100 salary, and that the government must force petroleum companies to charge less than 2,500 riel per liter for gas.
Education Ministry Secretary of State Pok Thon said CITA's demands for $100 salaries are not possible with his ministry's budget.
"This is up to the Finance Minister and also the head of government to judge if it is possible," he said, adding that the ministry does not really know if CITA could pull off the strike.
"We really don't know if they will be able to do it how many members they have or how dissatisfied they are," he said.
He said that the ministry has been working hard to see if a 5-percent raise would be possible on top of a 15-percent raise given last year to teachers.
Progress has also been made in reducing the months it now takes for first-time teachers to get onto the government payroll.
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