Labor
Sugar plantation burns in Svay Rieng province
A fire burned through 45 hectares of sugarcane plantation belonging to three companies in Svay Rieng province’s Svay Tiep district on Tuesday, with one company representative suspecting that the fire was intentionally set. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sugar-plantation-burns-svay-rieng-province
Fumes from toilets lead to mass faintings at factory
More than 30 workers fainted at a garment factory in Kandal province over the past two days after inhaling noxious fumes circulated by a ventilation fan located near the facility’s toilets, an official said. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fumes-from-toilets-lead-to-mass-faintings-at-factory-107996/
Four suspected human traffickers tried
Four suspects in a human trafficking case were tried by Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday over allegations that they organized the forced marriage of a 21-year-old woman to a Chinese husband in 2015. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21166/four-suspected-human-traffickers-tried/
Maid to return from Saudi Arabia as deal nears
Consular officials yesterday were working to repatriate a Cambodian maid fleeing what she described as unfair working conditions in Saudi Arabia, even as Cambodia’s minister of labour was en route to seal a long-awaited deal to open a pipeline of workers to the Gulf nation. ...
Charles Rollet and Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/maid-return-saudi-arabia-deal-nears
Alleged attackers at capitol protest to sue
The president of a tuk-tuk and motodop drivers’ association, whose members were recorded on video brutally beating protesting bus drivers over the weekend, said he would file complaints against prominent union and civil society leaders for sparking the violence his own group was accused of ...
Lay Samean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/alleged-attackers-capitol-protest-sue
Exports to US rise over 9 percent last year
With the American economy expanding, Cambodia’s total export to the country increased slightly more than 9 per cent last year over 2014, the latest US trade data shows. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21104/exports-to-us-rise-over-9-percent-last-year/
Capitol protesters charged over brawl
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged two protesters involved in a bloody scuffle that left scores injured over the weekend, while another four prominent unionists were also charged in a significant expansion of the controversial case. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/capitol-protesters-charged-over-brawl
Protesting capitol bus drivers attacked
A bloody scuffle in Phnom Penh on Saturday left scores injured after protesting bus drivers and their supporters were brutally set upon by a rival association armed with sticks, metal bars and hammers. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/protesting-capitol-bus-drivers-attacked
Appeal court upholds Veng Sreng riot convictions
The Appeal Court on Thursday upheld convictions of intentional violence and causing property damage against 13 unionists and workers who were arrested during a riot outside a Phnom Penh industrial park on January 3, 2014, at which military police shot dead at least five people. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/appeal-court-upholds-veng-sreng-riot-convictions-107532/
Cambodia suffering a lack of depth in skilled-worker pool
Kouch Pheng, president of Advanced Glory Logistics Group (Cambodia), is in the business of overcoming obstacles. His Phnom Penh-based freight-forwarding company handles a daily dose of pot-holed roads, unscripted shipping delays and Kafka-esque government red tape – yet still manages to deliver its client’s cargo ...
Ayanna Runcie
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodia-suffering-lack-depth-skilled-worker-pool
Two Cambodians convicted following Thailand market melee
Officials are attempting to secure the release of two Cambodian men who were sentenced to three months in a Thai prison on Thursday after being summarily convicted of attacking government inspectors at a market in Sa Kaeo province the day before, according to the Ministry ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/two-cambodians-convicted-following-thailand-market-melee-107655/
Worker road deaths spike in ‘15
The number of workers killed and injured by traffic accidents nearly doubled in 2015, according to a report released by the National Social Security Fund yesterday. ...
Sen David and Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/worker-road-deaths-spike-15
Free Unionists, FTU pleads
The Free Trade Union has sent a letter to police seeking the release of two union officials arrested on Tuesday over protests at the Cerie garment factory in Kampong Speu province. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/free-unionists-ftu-pleads
Bavet city SEZ workers to be released on bail
The four garment workers arrested late last year alongside seven others for allegedly damaging factory property during protests in Bavet City will be released on bail soon, according to Svay Rieng provincial officials. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20820/bavet-city-sez-workers-to-be-released-on-bail/
Workers from shuttered garment factory demand wages
More than 500 garment workers from a shuttered garment factory in the capital’s Dangkor district are demanding their salaries after the firm’s owner ran away.According to its website, the Chinese-owned Muse Garment (Cambodia) Factory Limited produced pants and shorts exclusively for the European market. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-shuttered-garment-factory-demand-wages
GIZ pumps euros into workplace inspections
In a bid to reassure European shoppers concerned with unfair labour practices, Germany’s state aid agency GIZ has pledged €1.2 million ($1.3 million) to a new program focused on enhancing Cambodia’s labour inspections system for the garment sector. ...
Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/giz-pumps-euros-workplace-inspections
Garment workers rally against Starlight, labor ministry to step in
After roughly 300 garment workers from the Starlight Apparel manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Kandal province’s Khsach Kandal district gathered in front of the Ministry of Labor yesterday, officials promised to meet today to address their demands, according to a representative of the workers. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/20658/garment-workers-rally-against-starlight--labor-ministry-to-step-in/
Apparel companies cite union concerns
A visiting delegation from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong met with relevant ministries and stakeholders yesterday to discuss the progress of Cambodia’s trade union law and the issues surrounding industrial relations in the Kingdom. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/apparel-companies-cite-union-concerns
New standards for recruitment agencies
The Ministry of Labour on Saturday issued a 12-point set of standards for recruitment agencies sending workers abroad, warning operators they have just over a month to comply. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-standards-recruitment-agencies
Labor leaders call for more discussion on union law
In a joint statement, civil society and labor leaders urged the government to accept changes to the law as they continue to discuss it. ...
Hean Socheata
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/labor-leaders-call-for-more-discussion-on-union-law/3154489.html
Meetings over law leave unions wanting
Unions yesterday called for further discussion of the draft trade union law after a bipartisan committee tasked with examining the controversial legislation concluded on Tuesday having agreed to few substantive changes. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/meetings-over-law-leave-unions-wanting
New report spotlights hidden workforce behind global brands
Global brands rely on a hidden workforce within their supply chains to avoid responsibility for poor working conditions and abuse, according to a new report from the International Trade Union Confederation. ...
Aria Danaparamita
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-report-spotlights-hidden-workforce-behind-global-brands-105909/
Committee wraps up trade union law talks
The bipartisan committee tasked with examining the Kingdom’s controversial draft trade union law wrapped up its activities yesterday, ultimately making few of the substantive changes that unions demanded. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/committee-wraps-trade-union-law-talks
Business group airs union law concerns
Some of the country’s top business leaders laid out their main concerns with a controversial draft union law during a meeting with CPP lawmakers on Monday, including a stipulation that would let only 10 people form a union at a workplace. ...
Sek Odom and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/business-group-airs-union-law-concerns-105839/