Opposition leader Sam Rainsy addressing the crowd of striking workers at the Phnom Penh Garment City Ltd. Helps provided by SRP to striking workers seem to rattle the nerves of the ruling CPP party, as well as the factory owners, some of whom are abusing the workers' rights. (Photo: SRP)With the approaching 2008 general election, opposition MPs are looking for support from workers among various factories in order to win the upcoming election. However, this search for popularity among factories did not please the factory owners who blame that this action affects their factories.
In the morning of 28 January 2008, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, accompanied by Phnom Penh SRP MPs Ho Vann and Nou Sovath, visited the Phnom Penh Garment City Ltd. where 400 striking workers were demanding (1) for a $6.83 monthly food supplement, and (2) that they be paid in cash salary rather than factory tickets.
However, until the afternoon of 28 January, the strike negotiation did not make any progress as the factory owner maintained his position of not fulfilling the demands made by the workers who are not working overtime. Only workers willing to work overtime will be given the monthly food supplement.
Sam Rainsy told the group of hundreds of workers that he awaits to see the end of the dispute resolution between the workers and the factory representatives, and if there are no agreements between the two sides, he will push until a successful resolution is reached. Sam Rainsy added that in other countries, the workers’ rights and human rights are respected, and that the demands made by the workers are only enough to sustain the workers living condition only, they will not become rich from these demands.
At the same time, Sam Rainsy also promised to the workers that, after the 2008 election, he will raise the workers’ salary from $50 to $60 per month, and he will cut down the number of hours in a work week from 48 to 44, and Sunday will be a day off, so that those who have loved ones can spend a day with them. He also promised to form an independent tribunal to resolve labor disputes also.
Li Chheng, an aid to the company director, said on 29 January 2008 that, up until now, there is no agreements between the two sides yet because the factory still maintains its position to pay workers in company tickets and to provide food supplement only to workers willing to work overtime only, because the law does not have any provision to workers who are not willing to work overtime.
Regarding the opposition MPs, Ly Chheng said that the company abide by the law and has nothing to do with the opposition. The reason the opposition helps the workers in their protest, is because it is taking advantage of the workers’ situation. Furthermore, the opposition, like the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FUTWKC) are doing all they can to foment strikes outside the factories so that they can take advantage of it.
Ly Chheng said that this action could affect the interest of some factories, because when such situation arises, even, if there is an agreement, problems will still occur. An anonymous government mediator said that the resolution of labor disputes depends on the law, and even with the opposition party push, there could not be any resolution if both sides do not abide by the law, and he said that during past disputes, there were no opposition party present, and that the opposition party actions are only taking place with the approach of the election only.
It is noted that, at the end of 2007 and in the beginning of 2008, opposition MPs, including MP Sam Rainsy, usually visited various factories during labor-related disputes.
.jpg)
