By Yun Samean and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Six garment unions dissatisfied by October's $5 government-endorsed raise to the $45 monthly minimum wage will meet with the Garment Manufacturers Association in Phnom Penh today, though the wage issue is not officially on the agenda.
The six unions have threatened to strike if their demands for a higher monthly wage is not met, and two union presidents said they intend to broach the issue at today's meeting.
"My demand will be $52," Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union President Ath Thorn said.
Free Trade Union President Chea Mony said that the government-sponsored Labor Advisory Committee's Oct 19 decision to raise wages only $5 to $50 a month had infringed on workers' rights.
Van Sou Ieng, the chairman of GMAC, said that GMAC will not discuss wages but a full range of other issues could be discussed.
Most importantly, he said, is compliance with the legal regulations surrounding the right to strike. The Labor Law requires that unions seek government mediation and arbitration before engaging in a work stoppage, but many strikes do not follow this route.
Van Sou Ieng said he was concerned about making any deals with the six unions.
"I am worried that if I negotiate with this group then we will have the same problem and tomorrow another group will come and I will have to renegotiate with them," he said.
"We still want to consult with our counterparts but not with renegade unions or minority unions," he added.
He praised a Saturday statement by the Labor Ministry ordering factories to implement the new minimum wage in January and warning unions not to strike illegally.
In that statement, Labor Minister Vong Soth warned: "Workers must avoid committing any misbehavior that is contrary to the law that will lead to bad consequences to yourselves and the country."
"The Labor Ministry will take serious measures according to the law against those employers, union federations and workers who breach the Labor Law," the statement added.
The six unions have threatened to strike if their demands for a higher monthly wage is not met, and two union presidents said they intend to broach the issue at today's meeting.
"My demand will be $52," Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union President Ath Thorn said.
Free Trade Union President Chea Mony said that the government-sponsored Labor Advisory Committee's Oct 19 decision to raise wages only $5 to $50 a month had infringed on workers' rights.
Van Sou Ieng, the chairman of GMAC, said that GMAC will not discuss wages but a full range of other issues could be discussed.
Most importantly, he said, is compliance with the legal regulations surrounding the right to strike. The Labor Law requires that unions seek government mediation and arbitration before engaging in a work stoppage, but many strikes do not follow this route.
Van Sou Ieng said he was concerned about making any deals with the six unions.
"I am worried that if I negotiate with this group then we will have the same problem and tomorrow another group will come and I will have to renegotiate with them," he said.
"We still want to consult with our counterparts but not with renegade unions or minority unions," he added.
He praised a Saturday statement by the Labor Ministry ordering factories to implement the new minimum wage in January and warning unions not to strike illegally.
In that statement, Labor Minister Vong Soth warned: "Workers must avoid committing any misbehavior that is contrary to the law that will lead to bad consequences to yourselves and the country."
"The Labor Ministry will take serious measures according to the law against those employers, union federations and workers who breach the Labor Law," the statement added.
1 comment:
Watch out for your own people asshole
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