The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 525
“Phnom Penh: On the early morning of 13 September, about 600 workers of the Tonga [garment] Factory in Prey Lvea Village, Chaom Chau Subdistrict, Dangkao District, marched to a place in front of the National Assembly, after they had been on strike for 14 days, from late August almost until mid September, while no resolution has been found.
“A female worker named Nol Sopheap, who has worked in the Tonga Factory since 1999, said they protested opposite the National Assembly to ask the National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin, and also Samdech Hun Sen, to help solve their problems, by urging the company to accept 25 workers’ representatives back to work. In the meantime, she and other workers asked the factory not to deduct Riel 1,000 [US$0.25] from their salaries, giving it to the previous trade union which did not serve the workers’ interest.
“During previous negotiations, the factory owner had agreed to accept the 25 workers’ representatives back to work, but then he fired them and sent security guards to follow them.
“They noisily called for Samdech President of the National Assembly and for Samdech Hun Sen, they also held portraits of Samdech Prime Minister. Yesterday morning, more than 1,000 armed forces with protective shields and electric batons stood opposite the National Assembly in order to protect security and public order.
“Mr. Phan Sophat, a trade union vice-president, said that the most important point of the workers’ protest is that they want the company to accept the 25 workers’ representatives again back at work. Sophat also criticized the Ministry of Labor of being late in solving the issue and putting pressure on the workers’ negotiation group. This indicates that the Ministry of Labor is biased toward the factory side.
“Mr. Oum Mean, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training, said that, according to the resolution procedures of the Ministry, the Ministry tries to solve issues at the place of the conflict; if there is no compromise, the case has to be sent to the Arbitration Council. The Arbitration Council gives a judgment in which both sides should reach a compromise. However, if any side does not agree, they can file a complaint to a court.
“Mr. Chea Mony, the president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said that because the Ministry of Labor does not care about the implementation of the law by the employers who put pressure on the workers, not enforcing the law but considering that mutual understanding is most important causes difficulties.” Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1444, 14.9.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Friday, 14 September 2007
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1444, 14.9.2007
- Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General [Eng Chhay Ieng] Vows to Quit Gambling
- [Phnom Penh Municipal] Court Drops Charges against a General’s Son Who Used Drugs and Raped a [14-year-old] Girl in Malaysia
- About 600 Workers of the Tonga Factory Demonstrate in Front of the National Assembly
- More Than 1,000 Workers of the Suit Way [garment] Factory Continue to Strike against the Owner Who Violates the Workers’ Rights [over labor contracts – Russey Keo, Phnom Penh]
- More Than 150 Families March to Banteay Meanchey Provincial Office against Land Grabbing
- 130 People from Kompong Cham Protest Opposite National Assembly over 1,995 Hectares of Land Taken by the Meang Ly Heng Company
- Trees at Cardamom Mountains Animal Refuge Are Illegally Cut [Kompong Speu]
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6144, 14.9.2007
- Committee for Free and Fair Elections Asks National Election Committee Not to Eliminate 398 Voters’ Names in 21 Provinces and Towns
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4389, 14.9.2007
- Eng Chhay Ieng Promises to Resign if He Affects the Party’s Reputation
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