Cambodia slashes garment factory wages (AFP Photo)"I don't believe that the wage cut for nightshift workers will create tens of thousands of jobs," he said, adding that at some factories workers were already treated "like animals" - SRP MP Son ChhayPHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia's parliament Friday approved a controversial wage cut for garment factory workers that will reduce nightshift pay by 70 percent.
The amendment to existing labour laws is hoped to encourage companies in the key textile sector to begin staffing their factories in the evening, with the aim of creating as many as 200,000 new jobs, labour minister Vong Soth told lawmakers.
"The amendment ... of the labour law will help to create jobs for youths who are increasing in numbers every year," he said.
"It will be in the interest of society ... it will allow Cambodia to compete in the international market," he added.
Nightshift workers had previously received twice the daily rate, which in Cambodia averages around 50 US dollars a month.
Cambodia's opposition lawmakers reacted angrily to the decision and boycotted the vote.
Parliamentarian Son Chhay said the move would eat into workers' already small incomes.
"I don't believe that the wage cut for nightshift workers will create tens of thousands of jobs," he said, adding that at some factories workers were already treated "like animals".
The kingdom's largest trade union has threatened a nation-wide strike if the salary cut was approved.
Union leader Chea Mony said he would not accept the amendment.
"It will increase poverty," he said, adding that workers would protest the move by stopping work in the factories.
He did not say when the strike would occur.
Cambodia's clothing sector employs 330,000 people, who are mostly young women from the impoverished countryside, working to support their families.
The country's garment exports, which account for 80 percent of foreign exchange, jumped 17 percent to 2.5 billion dollars in 2006.
However, manufacturers warn that labour disputes could damage investment.
The sector has been hit by attacks on labour leaders, including the murders of three union bosses, which has prompted complaints from several international companies doing business in Cambodia.
12 comments:
reducing the nightshift to 130% of the day time minimum is the right thing for Cambodia. This is only one of the few things I support the government.
If the union wanting to demand higher wage for workers, it is not the percent of nightshift that they should be concerned of, it should be the minimum wage itself. If the minimum wage increase, so will the nightshift!!! Do the math!
This is a trend of globalization. It is right that the government has a good will to attract investment.
But look at the worse condition of the worker. Their salary is already a meager one before the admendment of the law.
I`m sure this action will increase more investment to some extend, but could our workers surive?
If the neighboring countries reduce the nightshift work to less than 130 percent, do we need to do so?
There are many ways to reduce poverty and attract foreign investment but I`m sure this one will not work.
Khemara
Life suppose to be easy but why do people keep voting for ah fucking CPP's and Yuon? You vote you work harder but what happen if you don't vote,,? care to try something new?
In USA, nightshift workers are making 15-30% more than dayshift workers. Minimum wage in Cambodia should be set to $100/mon at least. One way to compete labor wage in the global market, the government is paid to find way to subsidise the workers such as housing assistances, transportation, and daily lunch/dinner. In Shanghai, factory workers get 1/2 price off on lunch/dinner etc.. In Cambodia instead of helping workers, they squeeze off the workers..
If 90% of the work force are making $50/mon or less, how the country ever going forward? Will the politicians live forever? Do the very simple math! If you send your daughters to work in the factories for one month or Bush sends his daugthers to fight in Iraq...and Robert Kennedy is still alive, 'Justice' would be seen differently. This world is ran by greedy evils leaders (corporations are ran by greedy CEOs) that is why there are flood, serious rains, hurricans,.. global warming desasters everywhere... Do the math again and again in the brain doesn't help. It is in the your heart stupid human! When are you ever wakeup? Robert Eistein said: Human happyness is living for others so the world will be in peace and harmony. Living for yourself is destrive just like now...
HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT KI READERS AND SUPPORTERS:
CALIFORNIAN authorities have busted an ethnic Cambodian street gang, arresting 35 members who used internet and text messages to plot drive-by shootings and traffic guns and drugs.
The gang, which had about 100 members in Stockton, 130 kilometres east of San Francisco.
AS WE ALWAYS SAID SOONER OR LATER CAMBODIAN SPECIES (KHMER OVERSEAS AND SUPPORTERS OF K-IDIOT) WOULD BE SENT TO JAIL AND SEND BACK TO PREY SAR.
THE SHADOW
To 9:37PM!
I don't give a fuck for those stupid gangsters for choosing a risky lifestyle? The fact is that these stupid gangsters have a choice and they chose the wrong choice! The authority can kill them or send back to Prey Sar or whatever!
These fucken gangsters should know by now that it is not worthed to take short-cut in life!
Now tell me! What does this gangster issue have anything to do with the garment factory wage cut of dirt poor Cambodian people? ahahhahhahah!
"Garment workers are paid an average of $127 in China, $122 in Vietnam and $164 in Thailand."
The Cambodian people are paid to get fuck up! Please don't blame the foreigners and it is AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave and his stupid advisors who brought this wage cut shit upon dirt poor Cambodian people!!
Cambodia has too much corruption and no good business practice and Cambodia will never ever attract any more business than what Cambodia already has right now. I can't believe that stupid Cambodian government cut Cambodian people salary to create more jobs! I believe the market force will always make any correction by itself if there is any imbalance in wage, supply, and demand. AH HUN SEN have no right to intervene the market force otherwise AH HUN SEN is hiding and promoting a weak economic system that can't even compete with the rest of the world! Now that AH HUN SEN is intervened the market force and I want to see him intervene across the board including gasoline price, real estate, cheap dirt import from Thailane and Vietname,..
This is the different between Cambodia under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave dictatorship and the world! The other country such as Inodnesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailane,Vietname...their people get better pay and their economy is still growing!
AH HUN SEN said he is not afraid to make mistake but he is making too many stupid mistakes and Cambodian people and their children are paying for it! I like to AH HUN SEN for his stupid mistake!
If we abolished this stupid law,
and let the company decides, we
will attracted more company and
created more night jobs too.
To 3:46AM, 9:27PM, & 10:11PM
You guys have great ideas/comments. It's same kinds of idea I responded a few weeks back regarding this Noc shift wage cut. If we had an Educator, we would not see such an assine wage slashed in attempt to create "jobs".
My 5th graders understood more about the Economy -- way more advance than ah Hun Sen who had phDs!
correction.
...assinine...
9:37PM,
Yeah, but those gangster Cambodian thugs are CPP affiliated.
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