DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodia's largest garment workers union would call a strike if its demands for a pay rise to keep pace with inflation were not met, its president said Wednesday.
Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said it was demanding a 10-per-cent wage hike and a new minimum wage of 55 dollars a month, up from 50 dollars a month.
In an open letter to the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia president, Van Sou Ieng, Mony cited inflation, particularly for basic goods because of rising world oil prices, for the request.
'We will proceed in three steps,' Mony said in a telephone interview. 'First, we negotiate. Second, we demonstrate in the factories, and thirdly, we walk out as a group.
Van Sou Ieng was overseas Wednesday, and officials at his association said they would not consider the proposal until his return. The previous garment worker pay rise was in October 2006.
Cambodia has around 300,000 garment workers, and the trade is a major export earner and a pillar of the economy.
However, some analysts have claimed that factors including high wages compared to rival producers such as China and Bangladesh, high transport costs, erratic power supplies and corruption threaten the sector, which is mainly run from rented premises by Taiwan, Chinese and other overseas owners.
Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said it was demanding a 10-per-cent wage hike and a new minimum wage of 55 dollars a month, up from 50 dollars a month.
In an open letter to the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia president, Van Sou Ieng, Mony cited inflation, particularly for basic goods because of rising world oil prices, for the request.
'We will proceed in three steps,' Mony said in a telephone interview. 'First, we negotiate. Second, we demonstrate in the factories, and thirdly, we walk out as a group.
Van Sou Ieng was overseas Wednesday, and officials at his association said they would not consider the proposal until his return. The previous garment worker pay rise was in October 2006.
Cambodia has around 300,000 garment workers, and the trade is a major export earner and a pillar of the economy.
However, some analysts have claimed that factors including high wages compared to rival producers such as China and Bangladesh, high transport costs, erratic power supplies and corruption threaten the sector, which is mainly run from rented premises by Taiwan, Chinese and other overseas owners.
3 comments:
AH KEAT CHHOUN and AH CHEAM YEAP need to find ways to control inflationary pressure on Cambodian economy!
Cambodia has 6.5% inflation rate and yet dirt poor Cambodian people are having a very hard time paying for the high price on basic goods and services? It doesn't make sense!
Cambodia economic activities have too much interference from the Thaicong and the Vietcong and it must be stopped! Cambodia needs new economic model!
What model?
To 11:46PM!
How do you feel when knowing that Cambodian economic system is being manipulated by the Thaicong and the Vietcong? That is why I called for new Cambodian economic system and it must be freed from the Thaicong and the Vietcong manipulation!
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