Union complaint over gun

Friday, 02 September 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Free Trade Union yesterday called on the Ministry of Interior to launch an investigation into an incident in which a staff member of a rival union allegedly threatened striking shoe-factory workers with a gun in Kampong Speu province on Monday.

In a letter sent to Interior Minister Sar Kheng, FTU president Chea Mony claimed that Mok Sovann, a staff member for the Khmer Union Federation, had threatened five workers from the Shimano shoe factory who were striking on Monday.

“I would like to request His Excellency [Sar Kheng] please urge Kampong Speu province’s police station to intervene, investigate and take legal action against Mok Sovann to defend legal interests and better preserve the safety of workers of the Shimano Company,” the letter stated.

Price of goods: Even pro-CPP union calls for Hun Sen’s intervention

Price of goods: A union appeals to Hun Sen

31 Dec 2008
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Click here to read the article in French

Chuon Mom Thol, president of the Khmer Union, sent a letter to Hun Sen asking him to act in favor of a lowering of the price of goods.

In this letter, Chuon Mom Thol, president of the Khmer Union – a union known to be pro-government – stressed on the lowering of the price of gasoline and cooking gas whereas the price of other goods has not changed. For example, he cited the price of one kilo of pork meat which is currently sold between 16,000 and 18,000 riels ($4 to $4.50) on the retail market, whereas the wholesale price is only 6,000 riels ($1.50).

“I believe that Samdach Hun Sen could do something on this issue, just like what he did for gasoline, gambling parlors or loan sharks. He had shown in the latter about the efficiency of his intervention. If he is taking action again, he will increase his popularity,” Chuon Mom Thol indicated.

This is the first time that a representative of this union makes a direct appeal to the prime minister to attract his attention to the cost of living condition. According to Chuon Mom Thol, it was through his discussions with female factory workers and his observations that some of these workers earn a better living by working in karaoke bars and beer gardens, that he decided to send a letter to Hun Sen. However, up to now, Hun Sen has not provided any reply yet.

Unions close to the opposition party had already appealed to Hun Sen to take action on these problems, but nothing happened.

Workers, a Potential Voter Block Disbursed

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 June 2008

[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the second in a two-part series examining the role of workers.]

Though unions are able to exercise some influence on their members, the worker vote is widely disbursed, as many find it easier to register in their home provinces than in Phnom Penh, a labor leader said.

Some leaders of Cambodia's 28 labor unions say they will push workers to join the vote on July 27. Nearly all of these unions are aligned with a political party, and more than 20 of them support the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union.

Cambodia's 394 factories employ about 340,000 people, but most of them are not registered in Phnom Penh. They are registered in their home provinces, because they find it easier to register, Chea Mony said, and registering in Phnom Penh is difficult, because they don't know the city.

Chuon Mom Thol, president of the Cambodian Union of Civil Servants, whose union of more than 7,000 members supports the CPP, told VOA Khmer recently he will inform his workers to join the vote, and if they have no ability to vote, he will hire a truck to them.

He believes all of his members will vote for the CPP, because the workers believe in the party's policy of a $6 wage increase earlier this year.

The environment is different compared to 2003, when 80 percent of workers supported the ruling party. Now 90 percent to 95 percent of workers support the party, he said.

Chea Mony, whose union has more than 80,000 members, officially supports the Sam Rainsy Party, he said. Free Trade members believe the opposition assists them in strikes in the name of workers or when they meet with violence, he said.

In the upcoming period, he said, he expects to rally at least 10,000 more workers to vote for the party, he said.

In addition to encouraging workers to vote for the opposition, Chea Mony said he also wrote a letter to the National Election Committee and the Ministry of Labor asking them to support the workers' right to vote.