The Phnom Penh Post
Union makes poisoning claim
More than 70 employees continued to protest in front of a luxury resort in Siem Reap town yesterday, demanding that 18 workers be reinstated after they were allegedly dismissed for attempting to unionise. Chhey Phi, head of the Angkor Village Resort Workers Union, claimed yesterday ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080550873/National-news/union-makes-poisoning-claim.html
Firing pregnant staff triggers strike
More than 500 workers at a garment factory in suburban Phnom Penh went on strike yesterday over what they described as their employer’s history of disregarding labour laws, including firing pregnant employees. Taiwanese-owned Nan Kuang Garment (Cambodia) allegedly forces staff to work overtime, employs under-age ...
One week deadline for beer strike resolution
Following “tough discussions” with Phnom Penh’s deputy governor yesterday, Angkor Beer promoters agreed to suspend their protest for one week starting today. Ou Tep Phally, vice-president of the Cambodian Foods and Service Workers’ Federation, said five beer promoters and one union representative negotiated with officials. ...
More than 1,800 families seek help
About 60 people representing 1,850 families from seven villages in Battambang province’s Sampov Loun district yesterday petitioned Interior Minister Sar Kheng and Prime Minister Hun Sen for intervention in a land dispute. Villagers claim that district authorities leased 4,095 hectares of their land in Chrey ...
Boss blames panic on alarm
About 2,000 workers fled a garment factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and an estimated 30 workers fainted yesterday after sparks started flying from a generator and a fire alarm went off at 10:00am. Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union, said the episode ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080550882/National-news/boss-blames-panic-on-alarm.html
Damning revelations
An environmental group has accused the Lao government of “unilaterally” pushing forward with construction on the controversial US$3.8 billion Xayaburi dam on the Mekong River, despite serious concerns about the project and an incomplete regional decision-making process. In a statement released yesterday, conservation group International ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080550883/National-news/damning-revelations.html
Property tax questions asked
Cambodia’s property tax is to come into effect next month, though experts say the levy is not widely understood and may be too early. The property tax will initially focus on the capital’s properties, comprising an annual payment calculated of 0.1 percent of the value ...
Chevron talks oil production
Chevron Overseas Petroleum (Cambodia) has been actively exploring Cambodia’s offshore Block A, and applied for a permit to begin extraction from government authorities. Yesterday, The Post caught up with its President Steve Glick, who has been in his present role in Phnom Penh for about ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080450868/Business/chevron-talks-oil-production.html
Interest up at Angkor Wat
Increased interest by Asian tourists has led to about 33 percent growth for Angkor Wat ticket sales so far this year, according to the Apsara Authority. Revenues during the first six months hit US$20 million, compared with about $15 million in the period last year, ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080450870/Business/interest-up-at-angkor-wat.html
Current accounts in control
Cambodia’s current accounts deficit has increased in recent years, but is not yet a cause for concern, according to experts. The Asian Development Bank’s July update showed Cambodia’s current accounts deficit stood at 11 percent of GDP in 2010, and statistics show the trade gap ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080450869/Business/current-accounts-in-control.html
Two dollar strike to continue
Angkor Beer promoters yesterday rejected an offer from the municipality that would have required them to suspend their strike while officials negotiated a solution for them, telling Phnom Penh’s deputy governor that their protest is legal and that their employer is breaking the law. More ...
Residents tell tycoon to back off
Families protesting encroachment onto their land by a tycoon who is expanding a road in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district filed a complaint to the Prime Minister’s cabinet and the Municipal Court on Tuesday. On Friday, employees working for tycoon Thong Sarath demolished fences on eight ...
Complaint over violence
Twenty-nine community representatives from Kampong Speu’s Phnom Sruoch district travelled in person to the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh yesterday to file a complaint against provincial governor Kang Heang and other officials, accusing them of “robbing a total of 950 hectares of farm land”. ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080450865/National-news/complaint-over-violence.html
Petrol prices squeeze domestic consumers
Soaring prices for gasoline and goods have hurt some Cambodian consumers, causing what economists have said was a drop in the living standard of the Kingdom’s lower-income population. Gasoline traded at 5,300 riel per litre in Phnom Penh yesterday, an increase of about 12 percent ...
More competition from Thai millers
Thai government proposals to pay above market prices to rice farmers could complicate Cambodia’s goal of becoming a major milled rice exporter, according to industry insiders. Pheu Thai party leader Yingluck Shinawatra has announced plans to buy rough rice for a guaranteed price of 15,000 ...
FPT talks operating telecoms in Cambodia
Vietnamese company FPT Telecom aims to extend operations to the Kingdom, after its attempted acquisition of Vietnam’s EVN Telecom fell through. FPT Telecom “has plans to expand business in Cambodia, but all is in discussion”, a spokesperson said late on Monday, declining to comment further. ...
Vattanac in damage denial
A top executive from Cambodian company Vattanac yesterday denied the firm had damaged colonial-era buildings along the capital’s riverfront, as one local business owner sought a new home. Construction at a Vattanac building site – situated on Phnom Penh’s Sisowath Quay – has been at ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080350834/National-news/vattanac-in-damage-denial.html
Erdos Group plans laid bare
Documents obtained by The Post have shed new light on the scale of Chinese investment connected with the controversial Boeung Kak lake real estate project. The US$98 million project in northern Phnom Penh is the smallest of Mongolia Erdos Hongjun Holding Group’s planned investments in ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080350842/National-news/erdos-group-plans-laid-bare.html
Inflation rates driven by increases in food prices
The Kingdom’s consumer price index tracked a 1.4 percent increase in May over April, according to National Institute of Statistics’ latest figures. Prices at the end of May were 6.5 percent higher than the same date the year previous, the figures show. Experts said Cambodia’s ...
Central bank mulls its inflation response
Cambodia’s central bank is looking to tighten monetary policy to slow an inflation rate that could hit 8 to 9 percent this year, National Bank of Cambodia Director General and Spokeswoman Nguon Sokha said yesterday. Increases in commodity prices and petroleum has led to rising ...
Potential for more Europe exports
Cambodian exporters ought to make further use of tariff-free entry to the European Union, particularly given loosened regulations governing rule of origin, EU officials said at a trade seminar yesterday. Least Developed Countries such as the Kingdom could export to the EU duty and quota ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080250795/Business/potential-for-more-europe-exports.html
Medical imports decline
THE supply of pharmaceutical products has outstripped demand, causing a decrease in the value of drug imports during the first half of 2011, experts say. An increase in the number of firms importing pharmaceutical products in 2010 led to this year’s drop, Medical Trust Company ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011080250792/Business/medical-imports-decline.html
ABA Bank wins Cambodia retail bank of the year award
ABA Bank has been awarded “Cambodia Retail Bank of the Year” award by this year’s Asia Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards. With 150 bankers from across Asia on hand to congratulate the winners in Singapore, ABA Bank Deputy Chief Executive Officer Askhat Azhikhanov said ...
Central bank mulls its inflation response
Cambodia’s central bank is looking to tighten monetary policy to slow an inflation rate that could hit 8 to 9 percent this year, National Bank of Cambodia Director General and Spokeswoman Nguon Sokha said yesterday. Increases in commodity prices and petroleum has led to rising prices ...