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| Rong Chhun (right) scuffles with security guards and police yesterday outside the June Textile factory. (Photo by: Sovan Philong) |
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post
Police in Sen Sok district blocked a march planned for yesterday by workers from the June Textile garment factory, who have been demanding severance payments since the facility burned down in March.
Roughly 100 workers and activists gathered outside June Textile yesterday, planning to march to the capital’s Freedom Park and to government buildings.
They were surrounded by around 200 district and municipal police, however, who prevented them from marching and ripped away the megaphone of Cambodian Confederation of Unions president Rong Chhun, who spoke at the rally.
The roughly 1,000 workers from the factory have previously called for severance payments of US$150 for every year worked at the factory, though Rong Chhun put the demand yesterday at $100. Factory representatives have offered $20 per year worked.
Rong Chhun said he planned to appeal to garment buyers in the United States and Europe if the issue is not resolved shortly.
“I don’t want to do anything to affect the buyers, so I gave the boss one week to settle this matter,” he said.
Dave Welsh, country director for the American Centre for International Labor Solidarity, said a hearing in the case had been scheduled for May 31 at the Arbitration Council, where workers will be joined by staff from ACILS and the Community Legal Education Centre. He called the management offer of $20 per year worked unacceptable.
“The $20, basically, they’re pulling out of the hat, so we’re hoping that’s just an opening offer, because it has no basis in law,” he said.
But Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, said the fire qualified as an “act of God” under the Kingdom’s Labour Law, and therefore that the company did not owe any severance beyond what it has already agreed to pay out for annual leave and wages for the month of March. The $20 offer, he added, came as a result of “compassion” rather than a legal requirement.
“Everyone has suffered in this incident, so that’s just the way it is,” he said.
Police on the scene of yesterday’s protest declined to comment, as did Sen Sok deputy governor Cheng Monira.
Ky Say, a June Textile representative, said yesterday that the firm lived up to its legal obligations.
“The factory has suffered damage and can only offer a small amount of money to support the workers,” he said.
Former employees said, however, that they were prepared to continue the struggle.
“If there is no resolution, the workers will continue protesting,” said Mom Sophors, a 15-year veteran of June Textile.
14 comments:
when SRP rule, there are no or much less demontration because everything must be done according to law, but now according to corruption system in which the rich is richer and the poor is the slave and sufferer.
That what happen when official dont fellow the rule or laws of the country! Old fashion mafia style of bosses pay off the government and the police. Only voilent protest will sent a message accrosed our Cambodia country.
A worst-case scenario is that if the SRP gets elected, it would create a precarious power vacuum, and therefore it is judicious for the party to voluntarily abnegate its power. The country needs tenacious leader (Samdach); not foreigner (Sam Rainsy).
Pi Anh
The country doesn't need anymore CPP because they are liar, thief, crook..They are destroying Cambodia.
The country needs
a new leader,
new team that respects democracy..
where is Ah Kmauch oop Ah khmao Tum pek Youn's pussy sucker Choy Mare Eng ?i mean keo Choy ta Ma comming to solve this problen.
To commentator Pi Ahh,
Why don't your SOMD AACH let SOM RANSY BECOME TO BE prime minister for sometimes? WHY IS NOT SCARE YOUR SHADOW?
Why crime minister Hun Sen have to cheat,steal,kill ,lie,manipulate to win?
Give me a good answers?If you are good at debating?
Whoever criticize the government is a crime.
Whoever kiss Hun Sen's ?? gets promote.
What is the profit to the Cambodian?
Can you give the answer?
What is the Cambodia future?
we need mass demonstration very soon. violence is inevitable, but that is ok because we need to push through this obstacle to get what we want. And what do we want, people? freedom.
1:19 AM
Quite frankly, you must have been quite devastated to have such a loser leader Sam Rainsy.
You DO NOT deserve my answer, since you have shown your egregious behavior toward my prime minister.
Pi Anh
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
I see lot of youn faces who scuffle with demonstrator. They are working for youn so they have to please their master.
You voted for CPP, this is what you expected to get. Use your brains people.
ok! 2:44pm! WE LIKE IT!
2.44PM,
People didn't vote for the CPP HunXen Vietcong. THere was a coup...CPP used force to be in this position which is still illegal. Justice will catch up with you...just a matter of time.
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