26 Nov 2006By Sary Roat
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
The president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTU) blames the corruption of government officials which constitutes a major obstacle to salary raise for workers by factory owners.
In response to Samon, RFA listener from Kompong Som, during a RFA call-in program yesterday, Chea Mony said that corruption and increasing transportation cost cause difficulties for workers demanding for salary raise, even though the majority of factory owners want to increase the salary of their workers.
Chea Mony said: “The investors want to increase the salary of their workers because they want the workers to have a decent salary and good health, the investors depend on theirs workers. Therefore, the reason why they cannot raise the salary is because of corruption. The owners said that they have to pay a number of [government] officials who protect their factories. These government officials-protectors who are listening [RFA program] today, you should stop these protections. The second issue is transport. There is an increase in the cost of transport and tax payment, with these issues facing them, the owners are complaining when it comes to raising the workers’ salary. Therefore, the main problem is corruption that the government does no eradicate.”
In response to Samon, RFA listener from Kompong Som, during a RFA call-in program yesterday, Chea Mony said that corruption and increasing transportation cost cause difficulties for workers demanding for salary raise, even though the majority of factory owners want to increase the salary of their workers.
Chea Mony said: “The investors want to increase the salary of their workers because they want the workers to have a decent salary and good health, the investors depend on theirs workers. Therefore, the reason why they cannot raise the salary is because of corruption. The owners said that they have to pay a number of [government] officials who protect their factories. These government officials-protectors who are listening [RFA program] today, you should stop these protections. The second issue is transport. There is an increase in the cost of transport and tax payment, with these issues facing them, the owners are complaining when it comes to raising the workers’ salary. Therefore, the main problem is corruption that the government does no eradicate.”
3 comments:
We can work out together very easy how to improve workers working conditions. At present, if we work at $US45/month/each worker, we would have spent US$ 162 milions for labour. In this expense, workers can only work for the exchange of their foods and their stay to work. they have no monies left for holidays, clothing, children expenses, medecine and leasure. What is life for? How about employers? Have they make any profit? Can they drop their own profit to share sme to their employee? How about corrpted officials? If they know already how hard, our workers have faced and they still wanted to take corruption, please prosecute him and her for this degraced activities.
In reality our workers need at least US$ 65 /month/ ea. then we need to spend US$ 234 millions. With this monies, how much can each of our workers can save? US$ 5 per month? One year, they can save each of them US$ 60.00. How this monies compare with the employers?
We must work together for a hamony society. If the workers cannot survive, the employers cannot also make their profit. The benefit must have two ways street.
Very good point. I agree with your asessment. Cambodia needs local consumer willing to spend money. How can workers stimulate the economy if they do not have enough money to spend? $65/month sounds logical, and in the future, that too should be raised.
Companies like Gap and Old Navy are making billions. Workers in Cambodia are paid $45/month, but a Gap shirt in America can cost you $45. They should share the profit.
Cambodian officials are very short sighted. If they want to make money, legitamate money, then support Cambodian workers. The more money workers make, the more they are willing to spend, and stimulate the local economies. The government can then tax local businesses. If people make enough money, you can apply the personal income tax. Taxation can make governments 1000 times richer than corruption and bribery.
Yes if the government focus on improving tax collection accross the board say 5% GST for business and personal tax and on all products as well as goods and services. The government of Cambodia won't need to beg for other countries for doantion money.
If government colect tax they are able to pay public servant on time, sufficient income mean they won't need to be corrupted!
The important here is the ability of the CPP government and Mr. Hun Sen readiness to finialise and enforce the Anti-corruption law.
Once the law is available they need to introduce industrial relations laws to help protect employers and employees to have a balanced system that is sustainable for Cambodia's future economic growth.
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