CAMBODIA: Around 3000 garment workers at Berry Apparel in in Phnom Penh strike for higher monthly salaries

Record ID: 339632

  • Title: CAMBODIA: Around 3000 garment workers at Berry Apparel in in Phnom Penh strike for higher monthly salaries
  • Date: 15th July 2010
  • Summary: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (JULY 14, 2010) (REUTERS) WORKERS ON STRIKE IN FRONT OF BERRY APPAREL GARMENT FACTORY SIGN OF FACTORY VARIOUS OF GARMENT WORKERS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) 24-YEAR-OLD FACTORY WORKER HANG SARITH SAYING: "All workers requested for a 20 US dollar increase. But it would take at least 10 dollars, not the 5 dollars that they gave us, for us to be abl
  • Embargoed: 30th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cambodia
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Topics: Employment
  • Reuters ID: LVA915KPTK61B35T1QV9EMKOSZ26
  • Story Text: Around 3,000 garment factory workers at Chinese-owned Barry Apparel in Phnom Penh refused to work Wednesday (July 14), demanding a bigger increase in the minimum wage than the 9 percent agreed by rival unions last week.
    The government signed an agreement early this month with employers and five pro-government unions for an increase in the minimum wage to the equivalent of 61 U.S. dollars a month from 56 U.S. dollars a month, including a 6 U.S. dollars living allowance. The increase shall take effect on October.
    The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union, which represents about 40,000 workers, had sought a 93 U.S. dollars minimum wage and did not agree to the deal.
    While some workers actively picketed, some chose to stay home all day on Tuesday (July 13). Others went back to work after taking the morning off.
    One worker who did not agree with the increase said they were holding out for more.
    "All workers requested for a 20 US dollar increase. But it would take at least 10 dollars, not the 5 dollars that they gave us, for us to be able to afford most things because everything costs a lot more now," said Hang Sarith.
    Another worker in the strike echoed the sentiment.
    "I appeal to the government to keep checking on the workers. Each one of them is ailing, and we get little payment. We cannot live with it," said Chek Phary.
    Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, told Reuters he was urging his members to return to work, saying that talks on other benefits were still on the table.
    "In general, our stance is that we will have bilateral talks between us and the factory owner. We have asked the workers to write down all their demands, and I will take those written demands to the factory owner to discuss later today," Mony said.
    The agreement reached with the five unions was in line with a June 25 recommendation from the government to the Garment Manufacturer's Association in Cambodia (GMAC), which represents 230 factories employing about 200,000 people.
    The garment industry is Cambodia's third-biggest currency earner behind agriculture and tourism.
    The sector shed almost 30,000 jobs in 2009 after a drop in sales to the United States and Europe.
    Reports showed the country exported garments, textiles and shoes to the value of $2.3 billion last year, down from $2.9 billion in 2008. More than half goes to the United States.
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