Union demonstration in June 2005 (Archive photo, Cambodge Soir)May 1, 2007
By Duong Sokha
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir's original article in French
On this May Day, labor unions wish to have their concerns heard. If the FTUWKC renounced to hold a gathering for fear of repressions, the CCAWDU plans to organize a press conference before holding a gathering in front of the National Assembly.
Wages, justice, protection of labor unions: These are the demands made by various Cambodian labor organizations on this May Day – the traditional day for labor demands worldwide. The CCAWDU union plans “to organize this morning a press conference in front of the River Rich factory, in Sa’ang district,” Ath Thun, CCAWDU President announced. The press conference “will raise the issue of workers mistreatment, abusive layoffs of union members, and the no-respect of the labor law.”
The union plans to follow up with a gathering by 80 of its members, between 10:30 AM and noon, in front of the National Assembly, in order to hand over a petition demanding for wage increase for garment workers to $80 per month. The petition also demands for the set up of a reserved fund by factory owners. These funds would be used to pay off workers’ salaries in case of factory closing. Ath Thun talked yesterday afternoon, with officials from the Phnom Penh municipality which has not yet given their green light to the union’s gathering.
Yesterday, Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), stressed “the importance of May Day for workers, everywhere in the world,” however, he does not plan to hold a gathering. “All our public gatherings were repressed [by the police authority] in the past. I was arrested during last year’s May Day. We do not want to expose our workers to repression,” he explained.
Rong Chhun, President of the Federation of Unions of Cambodia, took the initiative to write an open letter to the prime minister, telling him in particular about his concerns on the living conditions of the Cambodian people. He reminds the prime minister that salaries remain stagnant while the price of goods increases.
Chuon Monthol, head of the Federation of Khmer Unions which is close to the government, announced that he will go to 2 factories on May Day to meet with workers. “The workers and the owners are like partners,” he declared while saying that the wage increase demand in unrealistic, “otherwise, the factories will close.” “The demonstrations, strikes must be discussed beforehand between the partners (workers and owners),” he insisted.
On the legal level, 242 associations, NGOs and unions launched a joint appeal yesterday, to the authorities “to conduct a professional and detailed investigation” on the murder of unionist Hy Vuthy who was murdered last February, just like Chea Vichea and Ros Sovannareth were 2 years earlier. Today, a debate between union officials should be broadcasted on seven radio stations. The theme of the debate will center on “threats and murders on unionists.”
Yesterday, at the Licadho NGO headquarters, several union delegates gave an account of their layoffs from factories because of their union activities. “I was laid off in October 2006 by the management of the Bright Sky factory for defending the workers rights,” Chhai Ting, a former FTUWKC representative, explained. “I wanted to find another job, but I did not receive any response for my job applications in 24 factories.” The explanation to this lack of reply: “Bright Sky sent out words to the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) to discredit me. Such blacklist was then set up.”
Seng Soeung told the story of his wrestling with the management of the River Rich factory: “When I wanted to establish a chapter of the CCAWDU, they wanted to lay me off in exchange for $300. Then the management offered me a compensation of $50 to $100, until I find another job elsewhere. I refused, I want to continue to defend of the factory workers.”
Wages, justice, protection of labor unions: These are the demands made by various Cambodian labor organizations on this May Day – the traditional day for labor demands worldwide. The CCAWDU union plans “to organize this morning a press conference in front of the River Rich factory, in Sa’ang district,” Ath Thun, CCAWDU President announced. The press conference “will raise the issue of workers mistreatment, abusive layoffs of union members, and the no-respect of the labor law.”
The union plans to follow up with a gathering by 80 of its members, between 10:30 AM and noon, in front of the National Assembly, in order to hand over a petition demanding for wage increase for garment workers to $80 per month. The petition also demands for the set up of a reserved fund by factory owners. These funds would be used to pay off workers’ salaries in case of factory closing. Ath Thun talked yesterday afternoon, with officials from the Phnom Penh municipality which has not yet given their green light to the union’s gathering.
Yesterday, Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), stressed “the importance of May Day for workers, everywhere in the world,” however, he does not plan to hold a gathering. “All our public gatherings were repressed [by the police authority] in the past. I was arrested during last year’s May Day. We do not want to expose our workers to repression,” he explained.
Rong Chhun, President of the Federation of Unions of Cambodia, took the initiative to write an open letter to the prime minister, telling him in particular about his concerns on the living conditions of the Cambodian people. He reminds the prime minister that salaries remain stagnant while the price of goods increases.
Chuon Monthol, head of the Federation of Khmer Unions which is close to the government, announced that he will go to 2 factories on May Day to meet with workers. “The workers and the owners are like partners,” he declared while saying that the wage increase demand in unrealistic, “otherwise, the factories will close.” “The demonstrations, strikes must be discussed beforehand between the partners (workers and owners),” he insisted.
On the legal level, 242 associations, NGOs and unions launched a joint appeal yesterday, to the authorities “to conduct a professional and detailed investigation” on the murder of unionist Hy Vuthy who was murdered last February, just like Chea Vichea and Ros Sovannareth were 2 years earlier. Today, a debate between union officials should be broadcasted on seven radio stations. The theme of the debate will center on “threats and murders on unionists.”
Yesterday, at the Licadho NGO headquarters, several union delegates gave an account of their layoffs from factories because of their union activities. “I was laid off in October 2006 by the management of the Bright Sky factory for defending the workers rights,” Chhai Ting, a former FTUWKC representative, explained. “I wanted to find another job, but I did not receive any response for my job applications in 24 factories.” The explanation to this lack of reply: “Bright Sky sent out words to the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) to discredit me. Such blacklist was then set up.”
Seng Soeung told the story of his wrestling with the management of the River Rich factory: “When I wanted to establish a chapter of the CCAWDU, they wanted to lay me off in exchange for $300. Then the management offered me a compensation of $50 to $100, until I find another job elsewhere. I refused, I want to continue to defend of the factory workers.”
2 comments:
Ah Hun Sen has no right to prohibit labor unions on this May day
May day is the labor movement celebration conducted on May 1.
May day is the Labor day holiday
Okay, your voice have been heard.
Now shut the fuck up!
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