Sam Rainsy addressing workers on Labor Day (Photo: SRP)May 01, 2008
By Leang Delux and Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
For the past week, Prime minister Hun Sen repeated that he was welcoming the International Labor Day. At the same time, he also suggested to the workers and the owners to celebrate on 01 May.
- The opposition party placed the workers in the center of its demands.
- It asked the government to increase the minimum salary to $75 (per month).
- Sam Rainsy also spoke to the workers, advising them to vote “for a party that defends them, respect them, and support them.”
- Once again, he also asked that Chea Vichea be honored with the title of Workers Hero.
However, the prime minister was cautious. He does not want to see unrest. “Let’s try to avoid using this International Labor Day to undertake actions that could affect public order, or the security in the kingdom,” he wrote in an open letter published on 24 April.
The Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) did not hold a march on 01 May. Instead, it organized a banquet for its members in Phnom Penh, where about 400 people were invited. Chea Mony, FTUWKC President, wanted to address 3 proposals to the government leaders during this Labor Day: “The government must include the $6 subsidy, given recently to the workers, to their (permanent) salary. Furthermore, it must quickly set up a labor tribunal.” Finally, he demanded the freedom for the two who were falsely accused of the murder of Chea Vichea, his brother and former FTUWKC President. On this topic, he also sent a letter to the king, dated 29 April, asking the latter to grant his brother the status of Workers Hero.
The SRP, which threatened to demonstrate on 01 May, delayed its action without announcing a new date. In a press release dated 30 April, the SRP demanded for the reduction in the price of gasoline. Furthermore, it wishes to see the setup of free medical service, and the setup of a labor tribunal, just like the FTUWKC does. “There will not be any lasting economic growth as long as the government does not have the will to uproot corruption, and as long as the workers are exploited,” the SRP wrote.
The opposition party placed the workers in the center of its demands. It asked the government to increase the minimum salary to $75 (per month). Sam Rainsy also spoke to the workers, advising them to vote “for a party that defends them, respect them, and support them.” Once again, he also asked that Chea Vichea be honored with the title of Workers Hero.
On its part, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) reminded Hun Sen about the difficult living conditions faced by the poor. “They lack food because everything cost too much,” Rong Chhun, CCU President, said in a letter he sent to Hun Sen.
According to Rong Chhun, hunger threatens civil servants and workers. If the government does not act on this issue, social and politic order in the country will be threatened, he warned. Finally, he called for an improvement in the labor conditions for teachers and factory workers, and he also called for a respect of the labor law in the (garment) factories.
