Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Workers, Factories Agree to Negotiation Commission

Factory workers strike
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 28 September 2010
“We urge all parties to respect the process and engage in good faith dialogue to find a solution, show commitment to constructive action for a long term solution and refrain from any inflammatory action or counterproductive rhetoric, and find a solution that is inclusive of all parties’ concerns and provides a long term stability for the industry.”
Trade unions and garment manufacturers have agreed to establish a government-brokered commission in order to break an impasse over increased income for workers, after thousands went on general strike earlier this month.

Union and factory representatives met with government officials on Monday, agreeing to establish the commission, with five members each from workers and manufacturers, in order to reach some kind of agreement over monthly income that workers say does not enable them to meet a decent standard of living.

Thousands of workers from one block of unions went on strike earlier this month to demand more negotiations, after manufacturers said they would not increase salaries beyond a $5 raise, for a monthly total of $61, in July.


The strikes cost factories millions of dollars, and some companies have brought lawsuits in its wake. Despite agreeing to the negotiation commission, companies said they would not be deterred from legal action against some strike leaders.

Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union, said Tuesday his unions had submitted the names of its five commission members to the Ministry of Labor in preparation for the meeting. That list includes himself and four other leaders of unions.

Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, said the group will send its names forward on Wednesday, after which a meeting date can be scheduled.

The general strike, which last four days, comes as Cambodia is looking to rebound from the global financial crisis. Garments remain the country's main earner, ahead of tourism.

The strike also prompted some major clothing distributors, including the Walt Disney Company and Levi Strauss, to issue a call for reconciliation.

“We urge all parties to respect the process and engage in good faith dialogue to find a solution, show commitment to constructive action for a long term solution and refrain from any inflammatory action or counterproductive rhetoric, and find a solution that is inclusive of all parties’ concerns and provides a long term stability for the industry,” they wrote in a letter to the government, unions and GMAC.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

In Cambodia it may be easy than america to find a women for marry. look in the picture ! there are many more women than men thery are young , so for those who has a lot of difficulty to meet a khmer women in USA,they should go to import one from over there .Right ?

Anonymous said...

7:58 AM Srey Khmer!

La Lune
Dragon House
Dragon Sea
Lucky Lounge
all bakeries/coffee shop

Anonymous said...

9:20 AM
ម្នាក់ 7:58 AM បាននិយាយថា ស្រីសម្រាប់យកមករៀបការ មិនមែនស្រីបនទេ

Anonymous said...

Why still hang on to garment factories which only make a slave out of dirt Cambodian people? These garment workers don't even make enough to live on....


AH HUN SEN government has no vision to see other opportunities in the job market that are well paid to meet the standard of living for dirt poor Cambodian people!

Anonymous said...

I've alots of friends that can't find a girl in the U.S. they're went to Cambodian and get one. Most of the Khmer girl in the U.S. they so picky, alots of that bitch they're married to the Red Nick or Yankee, the Niger and the Beans people those mother fucker races they're look old then these ages and these skins were so saggy and uglies.

Anonymous said...

1:59 PM You smacked them on the head...

before: '90s Khmer + Khmer
currently: 2YK Khmer + multi-race

Anonymous said...

O Yea Khmer chic,,,,,,ya baby yea!

Anonymous said...

Ah! Lops!!