Original report from Phnom Penh
31 March 2008
A union of factory workers will delay a major strike until after further negotiations scheduled for Friday, officials said.
The Free Trade Union is seeking a salary increase for workers of $5, to $55 per month, to buffer the rising cost of goods.
The union met with government and management Monday, though no compromise has been found.
"This was a positive meeting, in which the private sector agreed to provide a $4 increase to salary workers," said Social Affairs Minister Ith Samheng.
The union said it would hold off on a strike until a decision was reached Friday.
FTU representative Rong Chhun said the union was still seeking "to hold the association as well as the government to increase the salary of the workers 20,000 riel [$5] added to the current salary of the workers."
Van Sou Ieng, president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, declined comment until after the meeting Friday.
Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union, said an increase of only $4 per month was not acceptable. Without a full $5 per month, he said there would likely be a strike.
"Because yesterday, we met with workers from 50 factories, and those workers agreed that they would strike if the salary is not increased, and if the increase is less than $5, we will not accept it," he said.
During the month of March, about 2,000 workers had stopped working due to low salaries, he added.
About 80 percent or 90 percent of them had gone home, and the rest had gone to find other jobs or open their own small businesses, he said.
The Free Trade Union is seeking a salary increase for workers of $5, to $55 per month, to buffer the rising cost of goods.
The union met with government and management Monday, though no compromise has been found.
"This was a positive meeting, in which the private sector agreed to provide a $4 increase to salary workers," said Social Affairs Minister Ith Samheng.
The union said it would hold off on a strike until a decision was reached Friday.
FTU representative Rong Chhun said the union was still seeking "to hold the association as well as the government to increase the salary of the workers 20,000 riel [$5] added to the current salary of the workers."
Van Sou Ieng, president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, declined comment until after the meeting Friday.
Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers' Democratic Union, said an increase of only $4 per month was not acceptable. Without a full $5 per month, he said there would likely be a strike.
"Because yesterday, we met with workers from 50 factories, and those workers agreed that they would strike if the salary is not increased, and if the increase is less than $5, we will not accept it," he said.
During the month of March, about 2,000 workers had stopped working due to low salaries, he added.
About 80 percent or 90 percent of them had gone home, and the rest had gone to find other jobs or open their own small businesses, he said.
7 comments:
The $5/month increase is very reasonable. considering price of goods and services increase of late. If $5/month could not be met, then the next time around they will ask for $10 or $20 increase because their request never fulfilled anyways even for a small amount.
Well, all I can say is anyone who loses Khmer's jobs will be dead meat, and I don't see anything unreasonable about that.
If someone is not satisfied with their job, they should leave and let someone else who needed job take over. It is just unfair to kick Khmer's jobs out of the country when so many people desperately long waited for jobs.
Nagotiation is a democratic way and best solution to any labour dispute over pay increase or cworkplace condition. Ought to congratualte both side for taking such a step.
Demanding for $5 and being offering $4/month increment is a step forward to $5/month
$55 a month is still a cheap shit.
I suggest to change the country leadership.
A Hun Sen Out.
Democratic or not, anyone who loses Khmer's jobs will be dead meat, period.
$5 is an acceptable demand from trade unions. It is 10% increase from workers base salary.
GMAC can afford, it is only $20-30 million for the whole industry. This amount can be taken from the industry's spendings on giving bribes.
We must support to the working class. If you work, you should be able to live from your pay. Anything less is evil in our society.
Post a Comment