End right to unionize, businesses ask Hun Sen
Prime Minister Hun Sen told business leaders and government officials Tuesday that he will not tolerate “illegal” labor strikes that harm investment, but avoided judgment on a request to withdraw ratification of a U.N. convention protecting workers’ rights to unionize. Speaking at the 17th Government-Private Sector Forum, Mr. Hun Sen also referred to the opposition CNRP as an “extremist group” that had stirred unrest by enticing garment workers to take part in illegal activities during a nationwide strike two months ago. … “The government would like to reaffirm that the implementation of the freedom to make demands [unionize] must be done legally,” he [Hun Sen] said. “If it is done against the law, there will be no tolerance.” … Tuesday’s business forum, which was described by Mr. Hun Sen as an expanded meeting of the Council of Ministers, opened with the heads of the 10 working groups of the Government-Private Sector Forum delivering reports and making requests of the prime minister. Nang Sothy, who heads the group on industrial relations, and is also vice chairman of the government’s Labor Advisory Committee, used his report to Mr. Hun Sen to express concern about strikes in the garment industry. Mr. Sothy then asked Mr. Hun Sen to reconsider Cambodia’s status as a signatory to the International Labor Organization’s Convention 87, which guarantees workers rights to create, join and participate in unions. The ILO convention was ratified by Cambodia in August 1999. … After the presentation of requests, Mr. Hun Sen chose 13 which he announced he would see implemented in the next month, including tax holidays for companies milling rice, unidentified incentives for companies importing materials used to make luggage, and the creation of new immigration counters at various checkpoints. …
Hul Reaksmey and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/end-right-to-unionize-businesses-ask-hun-sen-53516/
