Showing posts with label Workers strike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Workers strike. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Striking KC Gecin workers sent petition to the National Assembly
Report by Ouk Savborey, Radio Free Asia
Video by Uon Chhin, Ouk Savborey and Leng Maly
Garment and construction workers strikes in Cambodia
Aug 24 2010
Libcom.org
Libcom.org
In the past few days, a garment workers' strike has found itself in conflict with bosses, local authorities and union officials while last week, construction workers struck in solidarity with sacked workmates.
Around 160 garment workers continued to strike on Monday (22nd August) outside the gates of a factory in Meanchey district, where they have camped out day and night since Thursday to agitate for improved working conditions.
Ien Pov, a union representative at the Sun Lu Fong factory, said workers had made eight demands to the factory’s management, including a request that workers receive US$80 in severance pay for every year they have worked at the factory.
“Most workers want me to continue to hold the strike after learning that the factory owner has violated their rights and the law,” he said.
But union officials and local authorities say the demands of the workers may not reflect their rights under labour laws. Som Aun, president of the Cambodian Labour Union Confederation, said that the severance pay demand especially was a step too far: “Their demands cannot be settled in just a short time because what they have demanded is illegal,” he said. “This condition is not mentioned in the Cambodian Labour Law.”
Som Aun issued a letter on Saturday calling the strike “illegal” and said that the confederation had decided in a meeting on August 16th not to sanction the strike because he wanted to meet with the factory’s management to discuss the workers’ demands.
Last week, the Arbitration Council dismissed a complaint filed in July by 160 workers from the factory, citing the illegality of the resignation clause.
“The factory will discuss their demands and try to solve the problem outside the court system if the approximately 20 percent of workers who are on strike agree to go back to work,” Som Aun said.
Meanwhile, Keo Sareoun, the chief of Chak Angre Leu commune, said authorities planned to crack down on the striking workers today: “It is difficult for us to maintain order and safety at night when such an anarchic strike is happening,” he said. “On Monday, I will not allow them to protest in the area any longer.” He declined to say what measures would be taken to disperse the protesters.
Ien Pov said that about 20 local police officers had already warned the protesters. “The police have told us that if we continue to protest our security cannot be guaranteed,” he said.
Construction workers' strike
Last week, about 40 workers went on strike in Kandal province, demanding that their employers reinstate 27 workers who they say were fired for trying to organise a union.
Speaking last Tuesday (17th August), Chea Sokyeak, one of the striking builders, said his colleagues planned to carry the protest into a third day.
“We will not give up our actions as long as there is no result,” Chea Sokyeak said.
The protesters say the company, KC Gecin Enterprises, fired 27 workers last Friday because they were trying to form a union. Co-workers began demonstrating outside the company’s headquarters on National Road 2 on Monday, demanding that the 27 be reinstated. Police officers tore up the protesters’ signs during the protest Monday, though yesterday’s demonstrations were largely peaceful.
Sok Sovanndeth, director of the Cambodian National Federation of Building and Wood Workers, accused the firm of contravening the country’s labour laws by sacking the 27 employees.
“The company seems to look down on and discriminate against the workers, since this dismissal took place without any explanation to the workers,” he said. “They violated the labour laws.”
Around 160 garment workers continued to strike on Monday (22nd August) outside the gates of a factory in Meanchey district, where they have camped out day and night since Thursday to agitate for improved working conditions.
Ien Pov, a union representative at the Sun Lu Fong factory, said workers had made eight demands to the factory’s management, including a request that workers receive US$80 in severance pay for every year they have worked at the factory.
“Most workers want me to continue to hold the strike after learning that the factory owner has violated their rights and the law,” he said.
But union officials and local authorities say the demands of the workers may not reflect their rights under labour laws. Som Aun, president of the Cambodian Labour Union Confederation, said that the severance pay demand especially was a step too far: “Their demands cannot be settled in just a short time because what they have demanded is illegal,” he said. “This condition is not mentioned in the Cambodian Labour Law.”
Som Aun issued a letter on Saturday calling the strike “illegal” and said that the confederation had decided in a meeting on August 16th not to sanction the strike because he wanted to meet with the factory’s management to discuss the workers’ demands.
Last week, the Arbitration Council dismissed a complaint filed in July by 160 workers from the factory, citing the illegality of the resignation clause.
“The factory will discuss their demands and try to solve the problem outside the court system if the approximately 20 percent of workers who are on strike agree to go back to work,” Som Aun said.
Meanwhile, Keo Sareoun, the chief of Chak Angre Leu commune, said authorities planned to crack down on the striking workers today: “It is difficult for us to maintain order and safety at night when such an anarchic strike is happening,” he said. “On Monday, I will not allow them to protest in the area any longer.” He declined to say what measures would be taken to disperse the protesters.
Ien Pov said that about 20 local police officers had already warned the protesters. “The police have told us that if we continue to protest our security cannot be guaranteed,” he said.
Construction workers' strike
Last week, about 40 workers went on strike in Kandal province, demanding that their employers reinstate 27 workers who they say were fired for trying to organise a union.
Speaking last Tuesday (17th August), Chea Sokyeak, one of the striking builders, said his colleagues planned to carry the protest into a third day.
“We will not give up our actions as long as there is no result,” Chea Sokyeak said.
The protesters say the company, KC Gecin Enterprises, fired 27 workers last Friday because they were trying to form a union. Co-workers began demonstrating outside the company’s headquarters on National Road 2 on Monday, demanding that the 27 be reinstated. Police officers tore up the protesters’ signs during the protest Monday, though yesterday’s demonstrations were largely peaceful.
Sok Sovanndeth, director of the Cambodian National Federation of Building and Wood Workers, accused the firm of contravening the country’s labour laws by sacking the 27 employees.
“The company seems to look down on and discriminate against the workers, since this dismissal took place without any explanation to the workers,” he said. “They violated the labour laws.”
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Angered Workers Torch Korean Boss’s Car
Model of the Camko CityBy Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 October 2008
A group of construction workers attacked the offices of the Camko City development on the outskirts of Phnom Penh Monday night, lighting a car on fire and throwing stones through the windows of the offices, officials and workers said.
The angered workers are part of a workforce of more than 1,000 people who went on strike Monday, claiming they were owed wages for the month of October.
"The workers are angry enough to burn cars and throw stones because the person who is in charge of the wages told them a lie," Ham Samnang, a construction worker, said. "They promised to pay them by the 24th. Now it is the 27th."
Workers had no more money and were starving, he said, in addition to owing rent.
The workers earn between $80 and $150 per month, he said.
A group of the striking workers gathered inside the compound of Camko City Co. Monday and attacked the car of the company's South Korean general manager.
Company officials declined to comment Tuesday, but Lim Samnang, an advisor of administration at Camko City, said the company had erred by not paying the workers on time.
The company usually pays its workers before the 25th of the month, he said, but the payment is currently late by two days.
Police said no workers were arrested during the demonstration. Camko City is a South Korean investment of $2 billion developing 119 hectares of commercial and residential areas in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district.
Sok Sovanareth, president of the Cambodian National Federation of Building and Wood Workers, said Tuesday the company should pay its workers on time to avoid violence.
The angered workers are part of a workforce of more than 1,000 people who went on strike Monday, claiming they were owed wages for the month of October.
"The workers are angry enough to burn cars and throw stones because the person who is in charge of the wages told them a lie," Ham Samnang, a construction worker, said. "They promised to pay them by the 24th. Now it is the 27th."
Workers had no more money and were starving, he said, in addition to owing rent.
The workers earn between $80 and $150 per month, he said.
A group of the striking workers gathered inside the compound of Camko City Co. Monday and attacked the car of the company's South Korean general manager.
Company officials declined to comment Tuesday, but Lim Samnang, an advisor of administration at Camko City, said the company had erred by not paying the workers on time.
The company usually pays its workers before the 25th of the month, he said, but the payment is currently late by two days.
Police said no workers were arrested during the demonstration. Camko City is a South Korean investment of $2 billion developing 119 hectares of commercial and residential areas in Phnom Penh's Russey Keo district.
Sok Sovanareth, president of the Cambodian National Federation of Building and Wood Workers, said Tuesday the company should pay its workers on time to avoid violence.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Sam Rainsy supporting striking workers at the Fortune Garment & Wollen Knitting Factory
On November 30, 2007, opposition leader Sam Rainsy left a plenary session of the National Assembly to go support some 2,000 workers on strike at Fortune Garment & Wollen Knitting Factory, in Roka Khpous commune, Sa'ang district, Kandal province.
Free Trade Union warns about nationwide strike
On 30 Nov 2007, opposition leader Sam Rainsy left a plenary session of the National Assembly to go to support some 2,000 workers on strike at Fortune Garment & Wollen Knitting Factory, in Roka Khpous commune, Sa'ang district, Kandal province (Photo: SRP)30 November 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) warns on Friday that a national strike will take place if there is no resolution for workers at the Fortune garment factory, following a violent breakup by the police against striking workers there.
Chea Mony, FTUWKC President, criticized the police breakup, calling it an inhumane violation of the law which will create a bigger problem, if the government still keeps on using this method.
Chea Mony said: “I am not threatening, sometimes, the workers are not happy about the Kandal police violence. They can hold a strike nationwide, nobody knows how the workers will react and no one knows how to prevent them from doing so. This is why we are calling on the Cambodian government, and in particular the Kandal provincial police, to refrain from using violence when it is not warranted.”
On Thursday, about 2,000 garment workers from the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, located in Roka Khpous commune, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, have gathered to strike by refusing to work because the factory owner plans to fire 200 workers.
The strike was broken up by the Kandal provincial police who used tear gas, and shot several rounds on the striking workers. The breakup led to 3 injured workers and 4 workers representatives were arrested.
Chan Kiri, the Sa’ang district governor, said that the break up took place because the strikers throw objects at them first when the cops tried to ease up the traffic jam.
Since then, the 4 arrested workers representatives have already been released. Oum Visal, FTUWKC Secretary-general, declared that he will continue to send his complaint to the tribunal about the injuries caused on the workers during the police breakup.
Oum Visal said: “On our side, we don’t want to see any problem arising. Several workers have been injured, but the police usually charge the workers instead, it accuses the workers of using violence on the cops. In reality, the workers never use violence on the police before the police uses violence on the workers. Therefore, we ask the government to end this situation, in particular the use of guns to shoot and threaten the workers during strikes. Otherwise, it is a severe violation of the workers’ rights.”
Today, the workers are still continuing their strikes. On the other hand, Sok Hak, the deputy director of the Fortune factory, indicated his pleasure about the progress of the negotiations leading to a resolution with the workers.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is holding the strike with the workers indicated that he cannot accept this violent type of police breakup, he will continue to observe the situation until a resolution can be found for the workers.
Chea Mony, FTUWKC President, criticized the police breakup, calling it an inhumane violation of the law which will create a bigger problem, if the government still keeps on using this method.
Chea Mony said: “I am not threatening, sometimes, the workers are not happy about the Kandal police violence. They can hold a strike nationwide, nobody knows how the workers will react and no one knows how to prevent them from doing so. This is why we are calling on the Cambodian government, and in particular the Kandal provincial police, to refrain from using violence when it is not warranted.”
On Thursday, about 2,000 garment workers from the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, located in Roka Khpous commune, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, have gathered to strike by refusing to work because the factory owner plans to fire 200 workers.
The strike was broken up by the Kandal provincial police who used tear gas, and shot several rounds on the striking workers. The breakup led to 3 injured workers and 4 workers representatives were arrested.
Chan Kiri, the Sa’ang district governor, said that the break up took place because the strikers throw objects at them first when the cops tried to ease up the traffic jam.
Since then, the 4 arrested workers representatives have already been released. Oum Visal, FTUWKC Secretary-general, declared that he will continue to send his complaint to the tribunal about the injuries caused on the workers during the police breakup.
Oum Visal said: “On our side, we don’t want to see any problem arising. Several workers have been injured, but the police usually charge the workers instead, it accuses the workers of using violence on the cops. In reality, the workers never use violence on the police before the police uses violence on the workers. Therefore, we ask the government to end this situation, in particular the use of guns to shoot and threaten the workers during strikes. Otherwise, it is a severe violation of the workers’ rights.”
Today, the workers are still continuing their strikes. On the other hand, Sok Hak, the deputy director of the Fortune factory, indicated his pleasure about the progress of the negotiations leading to a resolution with the workers.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is holding the strike with the workers indicated that he cannot accept this violent type of police breakup, he will continue to observe the situation until a resolution can be found for the workers.
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