By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Twenty-seven villagers have lodged a complaint with Ratanakkiri provincial police against a landowner who they say has not paid them for clearing trees on his property, police and rights workers said.
But landowner Tum Chamroeun said Friday that the laborers, from Prey Veng province, are working to pay off a debt they owe him. And he threatened to file a counter complaint accusing them of defamation.
More than 40 workers from Prey Veng and Kompong Thorn provinces made verbal agreements with Tum Chamroeun, who lives in Kompong Cham province, to clear forest on his 38-hectare property in Ratanakkiri's Bokeo district last month, said Pen Bonnar, provincial coordinator for local rights group Adhoc.
But the Prey Veng laborers say that after three weeks of work in Lung Khung commune they have received none of the money they were promised, said Hor Ang, provincial police deputy chief,
"It is a complex matter because there is no written contract between the two parties," he said.
Laborers say they were initially promised $135 for every hectare they cleared. But this was slashed to $50 after they started work, Pen Bonnar said.
The workers have no money to live on, he said. "The majority of them have fallen ill with malaria," from sleeping in the jungle, he added.
Tum Chamroeun said the laborers, who have cleared seven hectares, collectively borrowed close to $500 from him before beginning work.
They haven’t been paid because they are working off their debt, he added.
"I will probably be at the Ratanakkiri provincial police office on Tuesday to lodge a complaint against those 27 workers for defaming me," he warned.
Tum Chamroeun said that the pay rate dropped to $50 per hectare because the workers have not pulled up roots or plowed the soil.
But he added that he is willing to negotiate with the laborers about pay because "workers need money to pay for taxi fees to get back to Prey Veng."
But landowner Tum Chamroeun said Friday that the laborers, from Prey Veng province, are working to pay off a debt they owe him. And he threatened to file a counter complaint accusing them of defamation.
More than 40 workers from Prey Veng and Kompong Thorn provinces made verbal agreements with Tum Chamroeun, who lives in Kompong Cham province, to clear forest on his 38-hectare property in Ratanakkiri's Bokeo district last month, said Pen Bonnar, provincial coordinator for local rights group Adhoc.
But the Prey Veng laborers say that after three weeks of work in Lung Khung commune they have received none of the money they were promised, said Hor Ang, provincial police deputy chief,
"It is a complex matter because there is no written contract between the two parties," he said.
Laborers say they were initially promised $135 for every hectare they cleared. But this was slashed to $50 after they started work, Pen Bonnar said.
The workers have no money to live on, he said. "The majority of them have fallen ill with malaria," from sleeping in the jungle, he added.
Tum Chamroeun said the laborers, who have cleared seven hectares, collectively borrowed close to $500 from him before beginning work.
They haven’t been paid because they are working off their debt, he added.
"I will probably be at the Ratanakkiri provincial police office on Tuesday to lodge a complaint against those 27 workers for defaming me," he warned.
Tum Chamroeun said that the pay rate dropped to $50 per hectare because the workers have not pulled up roots or plowed the soil.
But he added that he is willing to negotiate with the laborers about pay because "workers need money to pay for taxi fees to get back to Prey Veng."
1 comment:
AH PLEOUE SHIT OF UNCLE SAM!
JUST LEARN TO LIVE IN A CIVILIZED
COUNTRY OF YOUR MASTER. DO NOT SPEAK LIKE ANIMALS... THSI IS THE REASON WHY YOU ARE SECOND CLASS CITIZEN? THEY CONSIDER YOU LIKE ANIMALS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY EDUCATION OR DEGREES... LORD BUDDHA PITY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO BE CALLED
KHMER YANKEE...
YOUR OWN SHADOW...
Post a Comment