Saturday, October 21, 2006

Unions Undecided on Wage Strike Action [- Gov't sets wage at $50/month giving meager $5 monthly raise]

Saturday and Sunday, October 21 -22, 2006

By Prak Chan Thul and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY


The decision Thursday by the government's Labor Advisory Committee to set a $50-a-month minimum wage in the garment industry has not sparked threatened strikes. The government committee stepped in on Thursday and decided the new minimum wage level with the support of two garment unions, despite 12 other unions being against the proposal. Morm Nhim, president of the National Independent Federation of Textile Unions, said the unions that are against the $50 minimum wage will meet on Monday to discuss their options. The unions met with the Garment Manufacturers Association on Friday morning and discussed attendance and seniority bonuses, she said. Free Trade Union President Chea Mony reiterated that the $5 raise from the current $45 a month minimum was unacceptable. "We can't accept this—it might burst into strikes," he said. GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo said both sides are still in talks. "There are a lot of issues on both sides other than the minimum wage," he said.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

$50.00 a month is a living wage? Is this the fate of Cambodian people? AH HUN SEN education system have failed Cambodian people badly!