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| A representative from the Ministry of Labour addresses striking workers at the International Fashion Royal Factory in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Hong Menea/Phnom Penh Post |
18 January 2013
By Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post
Two protesters and three factory officials were injured in a clash at a garment factory in Kampong Speu province yesterday as a report revealed that more than 60 unionists and workers were injured in such incidents in 2012.
Vann Bun, a Free Trade Union activist, said a factory official used a lead pipe to beat him and others at the Winson International garment factory in Samrong Tong.
“Protesters and company officials pushed each other as the workers tried to get into an [off-limits] area of the factory,” he said.
“The administrative manager tried to record it on video. There was a clash and a factory official used a metal pipe to hit me and other workers.”
The factory’s administration manager, Kang Vannet, said he intended to sue the FTU officials, because he himself had been punched in the head and had his cell phone smashed.
“I tried to escape from them, and I took the phone to record the video as evidence, but they destroyed my phone,” he said.
According to a Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) report released on Wednesday, injuries occur regularly in strikes in the garment industry.
Of 150 labour disputes last year – 115 of which C.CAWDU claims resulted from discrimination against unions – almost 20 resulted in injury.
“There were 19 cases of violence at 16 factories,” the reports states. More than 60 union leaders were injured, including 20 people seriously injured.”
Meanwhile, about 200 workers from the International Fashion Royal factory in the capital’s Meanchey district rode tuk-tuks to the Ministry of Labour to ask for help to have their wages increased to $93 per month.
“Our representatives were allowed to negotiate with the boss and ministry officials,” representative Hem Sitha said.
Thousands of workers at Gladpeer garment factory will continue their days-long strike by marching from Por Sen Chey district to the National Assembly today to ask lawmakers for help.
Workers at Kingsland garment factory who have protested – and slept – outside their workplace since their bosses disappeared owing them money will seek the help of the Arbitration Council, they said yesterday.
2 comments:
"...ask for help to have their wages increased to $93 per month."
The standard six-day/48-hour week plus overtime leaves little time to travel and see family.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june12/cambodia_06-14.html
=Do the number!
six-day/48-hour week
$93 per month
192 hrs per month
0.48 cent per hour!
These dirt poor Cambodian garment workers pay rate at 0.48 cent per hour! Fuck damn! This is a fucken prison garment labor!
Khmer people should wake up by now. If we want a sustainable living standard for our people, or economical systems. we should own our industrialisations, that is not own by foreigners. Novertheless, the finishing products then can be exported according to the free trade agreement, etc. At the same time, be aware of exploitations, e.g every nation is working for the best of their interests (taking advantage of the downfall nation). When people use the word 'help', the question is 'what is the catch?' since nothing is for free... Khmer govt needs to call upon all political leaders and discus about these issues, e.g divide the job evenly etc. In addition, King Ta is already dead, so all khmer leaders need to concilate and start a fresh since we are khmers (siblings of our nation) might as well conform and show others that we are a strong nation and the truth is, khmers did not kill khmers, it was the outsiders like VC and Chinese who sold their guns in exchange for khmers hard earn rice etc or the CIA control freak etc... also known as 'killing two birds with one stone', but I am sure justice will be done both on earth and in heaven. This world will not be at peace unless those perpetrators are ready to reconcilate ' in order to move forward, you have to mend with the past'...
Chaim Sraite Sa Baite How ( blood screams and skin calls from the grave)
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