By Yun Samean and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Six garment factory unions, including two of Cambodia's largest, issued an ultimatum to garment factories Tuesday threatening to go on strike if owners do not agree to recommence negotiations over the industry's minimum wage.
Unions and factory owners had been in negotiation over a wage raise in October when the governments Labor Advisory Committee ordered a $5 raise to the $45 minimum on Oct 19, ending the wage talks.
The unions demand renewed negotiations by Dec 15 in their letter or say the industry risks a widespread work stoppage.
The Free Trade Union and the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union were among the six unions who signed the statement.
Only the FTU, however, set Dec 18 as a possible strike date, FTU President Chea Mony said.
"The FTU will not accept the Labor Advisory Committee decision since it is a government tool," he said.
Chea Mony said previously that his members want a $62-a-month minimum wage. Other unions may settle for less.
'It makes me very sad," Garment Manufacturers Associate Chairman Van Sou Ieng said of the union threats.
"Certain individuals have decided to destroy the harmony in this industry," he said.
He added that of the 290 to 300 GMAC members, 155 already strongly objected to even the $5-a-month raise brokered by the government.
On Nov 23, GMAC issued a letter to all garment factory workers urging them to ignore "bad unions" who called for strike action. The statement said that in recent months, 4,000 workers in several factories had lost their jobs because they engaged in illegal strikes called by these unions.
"You should not allow yourselves to be cheated and led in the wrong directions that could lead to a collapse of investment and would lead you to losing your employment," the GMAC statement added.
GMAC has argued that with lower costs and better infrastructure, Vietnam will easily convince factory owners to relocate there from Cambodia when it officially becomes a World Trade Organization member in the coming weeks.
Unions and factory owners had been in negotiation over a wage raise in October when the governments Labor Advisory Committee ordered a $5 raise to the $45 minimum on Oct 19, ending the wage talks.
The unions demand renewed negotiations by Dec 15 in their letter or say the industry risks a widespread work stoppage.
The Free Trade Union and the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union were among the six unions who signed the statement.
Only the FTU, however, set Dec 18 as a possible strike date, FTU President Chea Mony said.
"The FTU will not accept the Labor Advisory Committee decision since it is a government tool," he said.
Chea Mony said previously that his members want a $62-a-month minimum wage. Other unions may settle for less.
'It makes me very sad," Garment Manufacturers Associate Chairman Van Sou Ieng said of the union threats.
"Certain individuals have decided to destroy the harmony in this industry," he said.
He added that of the 290 to 300 GMAC members, 155 already strongly objected to even the $5-a-month raise brokered by the government.
On Nov 23, GMAC issued a letter to all garment factory workers urging them to ignore "bad unions" who called for strike action. The statement said that in recent months, 4,000 workers in several factories had lost their jobs because they engaged in illegal strikes called by these unions.
"You should not allow yourselves to be cheated and led in the wrong directions that could lead to a collapse of investment and would lead you to losing your employment," the GMAC statement added.
GMAC has argued that with lower costs and better infrastructure, Vietnam will easily convince factory owners to relocate there from Cambodia when it officially becomes a World Trade Organization member in the coming weeks.
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