‘Historic’ deal for workers
Labour-rights groups are lauding a “historic” deal that will result in about $200,000 in wages and benefits being paid to workers who were stranded when the Kingsland Garment factory in Phnom Penh closed unannounced in December. In a meeting on Friday that took place as more than 80 workers continued a hunger strike, Saramax, which supplies retail giant Walmart, agreed to pay about 200 workers $100,000, and New Archid, which supplies Swedish brand H&M, agreed to put forward $45,000. A government-sanctioned auction of the company’s assets is expected to raise about $60,000, which will also go towards settling the outstanding payments. … Friday’s meeting, chaired by the American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS) at the International Labour Organization’s office, included representatives from H&M, Walmart, Saramax, New Archid, the Cambodian Legal Education Center (CLEC) and three government ministries. …
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013030461726/National/historic-deal-for-workers.html
