Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
14/06/2007
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Rong Chhun, president of the Independent Teacher's Association and a leader in the labor sector, appeared on "Hello VOA" Thursday to examine a new amendment to the labor law that will cut wages for nighttime workers.
Government labor officials say the new amendment will boost job growth in a country whose young workforce is growing. But critics say the amendments were made to appease big business at the expense of small workers.
The $3 billion garment industry is the country's top earner, and the US is the top buyer for good produced in Cambodia. Cambodia has about 350,000 workers in more than 300 factories.
Rong Chhun, who is on a trip to the US to convince buyers to pressure the government on the new amendment, called the reformed law a big loss for workers. It was also not likely to bring more jobs, he said, because investors would rather see a better investment infrastructure with more safeguards and the elimination of corruption. The passed amendment must be signed into law by King Norodom Sihamoni, so it is not too late to stop, he said.
Rong Chhun also urged the government to ensure safety for workers exposed to dangerous chemicals.
After callers despaired there was no solution to the new amendment, Rong Chhun suggested a peaceful demonstration of the masses.
Government labor officials say the new amendment will boost job growth in a country whose young workforce is growing. But critics say the amendments were made to appease big business at the expense of small workers.
The $3 billion garment industry is the country's top earner, and the US is the top buyer for good produced in Cambodia. Cambodia has about 350,000 workers in more than 300 factories.
Rong Chhun, who is on a trip to the US to convince buyers to pressure the government on the new amendment, called the reformed law a big loss for workers. It was also not likely to bring more jobs, he said, because investors would rather see a better investment infrastructure with more safeguards and the elimination of corruption. The passed amendment must be signed into law by King Norodom Sihamoni, so it is not too late to stop, he said.
Rong Chhun also urged the government to ensure safety for workers exposed to dangerous chemicals.
After callers despaired there was no solution to the new amendment, Rong Chhun suggested a peaceful demonstration of the masses.
2 comments:
Great job, Rong Chumm. Your vision and standing for the weak people in Cambodia is clear and patriotic!
There's no wage cut!
Some of these people like to cause some confusion--the minimum wage is still the same. The only cut is the "nightshift". Considering that nightshift equal to 130% of dayshift is very reasonable.
the cut of the wage will not increase employment, unless we have full employment. One indicator of the increase in employment is whether the rise in nightshift jobs increase after this cut. For now, less than 2% of factories employ nightshift--the reasons are obvious. Leaving it at an outrageous 200% of daytime wage is a disservice to the poor.
If Rong Chhun and the SRP are right and full employment has been achieved (given current circumstance of corruption and poor service delivery), then the nightshift regardless of the reduce in minimum wage still going to pay its staff the same amount to attract employees.
It is troubling that the SRP (for which Rong Chhun, Chea Mony a member) is moving to being quite similar to socialist. This is terrible. In fact, it is difficult to believe that they have an platform or ideology at all--everything said base on being the opposite of the government, wrong or right. This shift to being populist will hurt the country in the long run and ultimately hurting the Cambodian poor.
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