Cambodian garment workers end strike

31 January 2009
World Socialist Web Site

Around 4,000 workers from the Yong Wa garment factory in Kandal province's Takhmao district, Cambodia returned to work on January 26 after the owners threatened to close the factory. Workers struck when management announced that this year's 13-month bonus would be cut from $50 to $20.

Several employees were injured when 100 local and district police tried to force them back to work. The garment factory owners have agreed to restore the full bonus but abolished overtime and deducted $5 from each striking worker's salary.

Yung Wah factory workers on strike

Cash with police during a strike (Photo: Cambodge Soir Hebdo archive)

23 Jan 2009
By Nhim Sophal
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French

The workers asked for the payment of their $50 (13th month salary) bonus. The factory management refused because of the current economic crisis.

4,000 workers from the Yung Wah 1 and 2 textile factories located in Takhmao believe that they were cheated. This year, the workers will not receive a $50 bonus to compensate for a 13th month-salary.

According the factory management, because of the current economic crisis, the 7-year-long bonus practice came to an end.

At the announcement of this decision on Thursday 22 Jan, the workers expressed their anger by reacting violently inside the factory. Three workers were injured following police intervention.

Ath Thon, President of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU), gave out details on the negotiation held with the Chinese boss: “At first, the management accepted to pay a $20 bonus in two payments. But, this is not satisfactory. Finally, the management accepted to increase the bonus to $30. The strikers believe that this is not enough still,” Ath Thon indicated. The workers are holding on to their demand for a $50 bonus, because after a 7-year-long practice, they believe that this bonus is part of their normal salary.

At the end of the day, the Yung Wah management did not ask that the workers not be paid for this day of strike, nor does it ask for compensation for damages caused inside the building from rock throwing.