Cambodia’s garment workers confront multinationals
Since mid-January a group of illegally laid off Cambodian garment workers – mostly women – have been picketing the factory they worked in. Their objective was to stop the company, which closed down, owing the workers, collectively, about US$200,000 of unpaid wages, from removing the equipment from the factory.
The protesting workers let some of the factory equipment be sold under the control of Ministry of Labour Vocational Training but they have only been offered US$46 each out the proceeds – if they stop their protest. Outraged at this derisory offer, the workers blocked the road in front of the factory on February 23-24 in a further protest. …
On February 28, on the eve of a conciliation meeting between workers’ representatives, NGOs and government officials, the protesting workers began a hunger strike.
