FTU Requests Week Off for Workers to Join Rally

The Free Trade Union (FTU) requested that the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) permit workers nationwide to take a weeklong holiday in order to participate in the opposition’s planned demonstrations, according to a letter sent by the FTU this week. Signed by union president Chea Mony, the letter sent to GMAC on Tuesday implored garment manufacturers to suspend production from September 15 to September 21. The CNRP three-day sit-in is scheduled for September 15, 16 and 17. “In this case, the garment industry relies on workers who are voters and who generally like the CNRP as it has a policy that focuses on higher salaries in the future,” the letter says, adding that some workers fear for their safety due to the current political deadlock and want to return home. … But Van Sou Ieng, GMAC’s chair­man, said there was no indication there would be any instability in the country, and that the FTU’s request would negatively impact the industry’s production process. “We cannot accept it because it is not a good reason and it is not fair. I don’t think that instability will happen in Cambodia,” Mr. Sou Ieng said. …

 Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/ftu-requests-week-off-for-workers-to%E2%80%88join-rally-42214/