Garment workers' strike in Cambodian town enters 2nd week

29 Apr '14

2 min read

The ongoing strike by about 20,000 people working in various garment factories in Bavet town, Svay Rieng province, Cambodia, has entered the second week, according to local media reports.

The strike began immediately after Khmer New Year at most of the garment factories in Tai Seng and Manhattan special economic zones after workers began to leave in protest of not receiving a US$ 50 bonus, given to their counterparts at A&J factory.

On April 25, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) appealed to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training as well as other relevant authorities to carry out their role in preventing further escalation of strike in order to guarantee the safety and security for investors and workers who intend to enter the factory to work.

The GMAC warned that participation of the workers in the strike would affect their wage and employers would enforce labour law, and not provide wage and benefits during the strike.

Through a press release on April 28, the GMAC has said that the employers of factories at Tai Seng and Manhattan special economic zones never made a promise to provide $50 to workers.

The $50 bonus provided by A&J factory, which makes bicycles, to its workers was because they had achieved the production target for the last 3 months.

Demanding similar bonus from garment factories is “illegal activity which is the same as money extortion”, the GMAC said, and urged the Cambodian Government to stop the strike immediately in order to maintain security and safety of the investors and workers who intended to go to work.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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