Sunday 5 February, 2012By Mu Sochua
Phnom Penh
The Cambodian Peoples Tribunal concerning a Living Wage for Garment Workers commenced this morning.
Hundreds of workers from the garment industry attended to submit their petition to a panel of esteemed judges. The petition argued they were currently recieving "poverty wages, in that over and above receive wages far below a living wage, work excessive hours, and are subject to underpaid overtime and to poor and stressful working conditions". As 90% of those employed in the garment sector are women they argue this was placing them at a double burden in society because "they are both homemakers and economic providers".
The panel heard evidence from a number of garment workers, unions representatives and experts. One worker from Kampong Thom complained that even with overtime the most she could make was around $80 a month, whilst her households expenses were closer to $180. "If I get sick I don't have money for treatment. I don't know what will happen if I do" she remarked.
Stakeholders representing buyers' and manufacturers' concerns are due to be presented tomorrow. Bent Gehert, Southeast Asia Field Director for Workers Rights Consortium, lamented the absence of H&M and Gap. He proceeded to condemn H&M's repeated assertions of mass hysteria as the cause for the mass faintings, when their own investigations pointed clearly to evidence of causes related to low wages and inflation to be much more applicable.
I continue to express my solidarity with all Cambodian workers. Their right to human dignity as always is a cornerstone to my campaigning efforts. Explicitly I am concerned with the improper use of Fixed Duration Contracts to deny them benefits and the inadequate wages to support their basic needs.
4 comments:
Mu Sochua, a great Khmer Lady.
Response to SRP’s stance on China’s dispute Sovereignty in South China Sea
I must admit that Sam Rainsy's interview with Radio France International on Saturday 4 Feb 2012 is of exceptional top statemanship. The manoeuvrings in politics is quite intrigued. Khmer politicians should learn from this. However, the problem is Mr. Sam Rainsy only says these sorts of things when he is in political dead end. This time he was not afforded an opportunity to apologise to Samdech Hun Sen like the last time. Out of desperation he has to say it. But is it enough for China to support SRP? Should China forgo Sihanouk and Samdech Hun Sen in favour of the opposition party? Stay tune, time will tell. All cards for China to play now....
After knocking on the doors of USA and the Wests for years, Sam Rainsy runs out of patient. Sam Rainsy came to a political road block. Now he is trying to "buy" China's support as a last resort. Let think again. A tiny nation such as Cambodia, what can Cambodia do for China in term of “protection”? All I could think of protection in this scenario is like SRP’s issuing statements in the case of the CPP's illegal land eviction? This is Sam Rainsy's weird idea of protecting China's interest and saving Srok Khmer. Think again SRP supporters! Cambodia does not have economical and/or political weight - NIL, period! All China wanted is Cambodia's land as bad as the Viet. The fighting in 1979 between China and Viet was to protect China's interest.
Nowadays, in Phnom Penh city big businesses are operating by the Chinese already. The present best climate for China interest in Cambodia is through Samdech Hun Sen courtesy of the CPP. Therefore, the best comment Sam Rainsy could make is to shut up on this regard but he should try to unite all Khmer nationalist/democratic groups instead of claiming SRP is the only true nationalist making silly comments out of desperation which could be detrimental to Khmer’s long survival.
China would not believe Sam Rainsy any way. A few years back, Sam Rainsy said China had strong complicated connection with Khmer rouge. Sam Rainsy wanted to know how much involvement were Sihanouk and China during 1975 - 1979. Again Samdech Hun Sen is doing a better job in concealing this by undermining the effectiveness of the ECCC, the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
We know China keeps Sihanouk and the monarchy as their Khmer pawns. Gradually, Hun Sen now is within China's sight also, as ongoing and potential interest for years to come. That's why we've started to see slight "cracks" between Hun Sen and Vietman.
Note also that Vietnam is playing a double sword edge politics with the USA. USA is coming back to Asia and Asia Pacific regions. This might be good and/or bad for Cambodia's land depend on Viet's behaviour.
Reminding you that Mr. Sam Sary, a cunning politician like Mr. Sam Rainsy, Sam Rainsy's father was allegedly killed by Sihanouk. Sihanouk is China's "special" long term friend. Through good times and bad times, Sihanouk always says "Yes, China!". You cannot buy support in a few short statements as Sam Rainsy was making through radio interview. And now Sam Rainsy "fingers" at the USA and the West over the dispute islands in the South China Sea. Indeed, it is a very dangerous move by this opposition party leader in Cambodia for Srok Khmer.
Rainsy, Rainsy,អើយ Rainsy,.....just stay in France if you truely care about Cambodia!
ll Khmer, think again for the benefit of Cambodia.
Khmer in Cabramatta, Sydney
I must admit that Sam Rainsy's interview with Radio France International on Saturday 4 Feb 2012 is of exceptional top statemanship. The manoeuvrings in politics is quite intrigued. Khmer politicians should learn from this. However, the problem is Mr. Sam Rainsy only says these sorts of things when he is in political dead end. This time he was not afforded an opportunity to apologise to Samdech Hun Sen like the last time. Out of desperation he has to say it. But is it enough for China to support SRP? Should China forgo Sihanouk and Samdech Hun Sen in favour of the opposition party? Stay tune, time will tell. All cards for China to play now....
After knocking on the doors of USA and the Wests for years, Sam Rainsy runs out of patient. Sam Rainsy came to a political road block. Now he is trying to "buy" China's support as a last resort. Let think again. A tiny nation such as Cambodia, what can Cambodia do for China in term of “protection”? All I could think of protection in this scenario is like SRP’s issuing statements in the case of the CPP's illegal land eviction? This is Sam Rainsy's weird idea of protecting China's interest and saving Srok Khmer. Think again SRP supporters! Cambodia does not have economical and/or political weight - NIL, period! All China wanted is Cambodia's land as bad as the Viet. The fighting in 1979 between China and Viet was to protect China's interest.
Nowadays, in Phnom Penh city big businesses are operating by the Chinese already. The present best climate for China interest in Cambodia is through Samdech Hun Sen courtesy of the CPP. Therefore, the best comment Sam Rainsy could make is to shut up on this regard but he should try to unite all Khmer nationalist/democratic groups instead of claiming SRP is the only true nationalist making silly comments out of desperation which could be detrimental to Khmer’s long survival.
China would not believe Sam Rainsy any way. A few years back, Sam Rainsy said China had strong complicated connection with Khmer rouge. Sam Rainsy wanted to know how much involvement were Sihanouk and China during 1975 - 1979. Again Samdech Hun Sen is doing a better job in concealing this by undermining the effectiveness of the ECCC, the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
We know China keeps Sihanouk and the monarchy as their Khmer pawns. Gradually, Hun Sen now is within China's sight also, as ongoing and potential interest for years to come. That's why we've started to see slight "cracks" between Hun Sen and Vietman.
Note also that Vietnam is playing a double sword edge politics with the USA. USA is coming back to Asia and Asia Pacific regions. This might be good and/or bad for Cambodia's land depend on Viet's behaviour.
Reminding you that Mr. Sam Sary, a cunning politician like Mr. Sam Rainsy, Sam Rainsy's father was allegedly killed by Sihanouk. Sihanouk is China's "special" long term friend. Through good times and bad times, Sihanouk always says "Yes, China!". You cannot buy support in a few short statements as Sam Rainsy was making through radio interview. And now Sam Rainsy "fingers" at the USA and the West over the dispute islands in the South China Sea. Indeed, it is a very dangerous move by this opposition party leader in Cambodia for Srok Khmer.
Rainsy, Rainsy,អើយ Rainsy,.....just stay in France if you truely care about Cambodia!
ll Khmer, think again for the benefit of Cambodia.
Khmer in Cabramatta, Sydney
That is so right- let Khmer Mchas Srok run around the world knocking on the doors of empty houses, instead.
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