SH protesters to keep striking

A security guard kicks a burning tyre during a protest by factory workers outside Ford Glory (Cambodia) Manufacturing Limited yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photo by Pha Lina

Garment workers stage a peaceful protest outside the SH International Company’s factory in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photo by Vireak Mai

Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Tep Nimol
The Phnom Penh Post

More than 700 workers at the SH International factory in the capital’s Po Sen Chey district have vowed to keep striking, despite the Ministry of Labour saying it could not help solve their dispute because their demands were “excessive”.

The workers protested again yesterday outside the Choam Chao factory, calling for two administration officials and two sewing line leaders to be sacked.

Lay Sokha, vice president of the Free Trade Union (FTU) at SH, said the workers also want a $10 transportation allowance, a $10 rental bonus, a $10 incentive bonus and for their basic salary to be increased to $70.

“The workers’ requests were not settled – they stood outside the factory waiting for the company to negotiate with them,” she said.

Va Yuvawathana, director of the labour dispute office at the Ministry of Labour, said he had not been able to help the workers and SH factory reach an agreement because the workers’ demands were “excessive”.

“The request for the removal of administration officials and sewing line leaders was an individual dispute, and asking for an increase in the basic salary to $70 is contrary to the law that states that $61 [is what factories have to pay],” he said. “The incentive they wanted was $10 – the law states it is as $7.”

Va Yuvawathana said, however, that he had submitted the case to the Arbitration Council.

It was better news for about 100 workers at the Ford Glory factory in the capital’s Meanchey district yesterday, who spent the morning protesting and burning tyres but ultimately saw the company agree to reinstate Muth Ravorn, a worker fired after being appointed as a union leader early this month.

According to Sam Oeun, president of the Union Federation for Labour Rights, the company also agreed to increase workers’ attendance bonuses from $8 to $10.

The protesters will return to work today, but plan to keep fighting for better conditions they had demanded, he said.

Bi Chanrany, administration chief of Ford Glory, could not be reached for comment.