Thursday, June 21, 2012

Workers dig heels in at M&V factory

(Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

The stand-off between about 3,000 disgruntled garment workers and the owners of Kampong Chhnang’s M&V garment factory continued yesterday, with workers vowing not to return to work until all their demands were met.

The workers, who produce supplies for Swedish brand H&M, were demanding a US$7 accommodation and transportation allowance, among other things, Free Trade Union general secretary Mann Seng Hak told the Post.

The factory rejected all the workers’ demands. They agreed to give $2.50 for transportation and accommodation, and $1 for attendance bonus,” Mann Seng Hak said.


Negotiations between the factory’s owners, provincial labour department officials and union representatives had reached a stalemate, he added.

“The workers still keep their stance, and so do the factory owners, so we cannot continue our negotiation. The workers will keep striking until they get success,” Mann Seng Hak said, adding that the case had been sent to the Ministry of Labour.

Kampong Chhnang provincial labour department director Pov Sitha could not be reached for comment.

M&V factory administrative manager Yin Nak also could not be reached, but told the Post on Tuesday the strike was considered “illegal” because workers did not give prior notice.

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