Sides dig in over minimum wage

11 March 2013
The Phnom Penh Post
Economy and commerce / Unions
American Center for International Labor Solidarity / American Center for International Labor Solidarity Country Manager David Welsh / Cambodian Confederation of Union President Rong Chhun / Cambodian Confederation of Unions / Dave Welsh / Deputy Secretary General Vong Sovann / GMAC / GMAC Secretary General Ken Loo / Ken Loo / minimum wage / minimum wage increase / Ministry of Social Affairs / Ministry of Social Affairs’ strike resolution committee / Rong Chhun / Vong Sovann / wage increase / Worker unions

Unions and the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) are unlikely to walk out of their final minimum wage meeting today with an agreed-upon increase for workers, industry insiders said yesterday. Both parties have reaffirmed their respective positions: GMAC secretary-general Ken Loo said yesterday that “nothing’s changed” and his association would enter the meeting offering garment and footwear workers $70 per month, while Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, said unions did not intend to accept below $100. … Vong Sovann, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Social Affairs’ strike resolution committee, played down suggestions today’s meeting was a foregone conclusion. “I cannot say whether [the two parties] will reduce or increase their demands. We are going to wait and see,” he said, adding the government would take action if no agreement was reached. …

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