Thursday, September 23, 2010

Factories Claim $15 Million in Damages After Strikes

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Wednesday, 22 September 2010

“We need to know what the union wants to raise for its members. We'll take the next step.”
The garment industry raised its loss estimates to $15 million on Wednesday in the wake of a general strike last week.

The $15 million was reported by at least 30 garment factories through the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, after thousands of workers went on strike in search of more pay.

GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo told VOA Khmer on Wednesday the figure was based on lost production and damages factory property, costs for alternative logistics and freight, and for discounts on late deliveries.

In a statement, the group, which represents factory managers, said it would “support its members in the effort of finding justice and compensation for the loss.”

Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union, said last week's strike was held legally and that losses were up to the companies. Workers would not compensate for the losses, he said.

The strikes ended after four days before further negotiations were settled on for Sept. 27.

Loo said Wednesday that GMAC had not prepared a topic for next week's talks, but its members would attend and “listen to the demands and requests of the trade union federation.

“We need to know what the union wants to raise for its members,” he said. “We'll take the next step.”

Ath Thun said the unions will not request a raise in the monthly salaries, but will instead seek an additional per diem for food, an increase in overtime rates and other bonuses to help offset the rising costs of living.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

all Khmer garment factory workers will be jobless and hunger to dead if they do stop going on strike in the future those factories will be closed and move to a different country which is safer and more protection by it government. Cambodia is very tough to run business by internatonal standard.

Anonymous said...

Khmers must learn to hang on together(solidarity) for the better or the worse.

Anonymous said...

There should be an serious investigation.

Anonymous said...

hundreds of million if not billions of dollars have been gained on the backs of these poorly paid factory workers. 15 million loss is an inflated figure and should be a core factor to which these factory operators to take workers' complains seriously and deal fairly. They are in the eyes and concern of the world and you are under the scope of everyone and government on this planet.

Anonymous said...

Deduct it from workers wages,,,,,,, Or zun zen pension fund.

Anonymous said...

The Governemnt , Hun Sen...has used the Court to intimidate the Opposition...
Now it's the turn of the Malhonest Companies to follow Hun Sen's way to silence their workers. They want them to work as slaves....

Anonymous said...

All they asking for is $93 a month! Give them those salary, factories make millions each time it ship the garments out so $93 a month per workers won't make the owner poor. Stop being greedy!

Anonymous said...

No body can work 60 hours per day and get paid $60 per month for ever,
you may be able to do that for few years
but not longer, you would explode exactely like that.