Special Economic Zone Strike in Svay Rieng Ends—For Now
An estimated 30,000 garment factory workers will resume work this morning after three days of strike action ended Wednesday when Svay Rieng provincial officials promised to help the strikers achieve their demands from factory owners. The mass strike led the owner of the Tai Seng Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Svay Rieng to predict the departure of foreign investors from Cambodia because of the growing demands and militancy of workers. “The workers now are the owners of the factories,” said Ly Song Hsin, owner of the Tai Seng SEZ where 22 factories, employing more than 10,000 workers, were shut by the strike. … Chheng Chhoan, secretary-general of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW), said that workers from 36 factories had begun protesting on Monday. The factories are located in the Manhattan Special Economic Zone and Tai Seng SEZ. According to Mr. Chhoan, the strikers are demanding a minimum monthly wage of $154, better working conditions in their factories, official annual leave, a boost to their daily meal allowance and the abandonment of fines imposed on workers during absences. … Ou Sokhoeun, deputy chief of the Svay Rieng provincial labor department, said that he met with three unions—CUMW, the Labor Union of Workers and the Collective Union of Khmer Workers—to discuss their demands. The outcome of the meeting was a draft letter of the strikers’ demands that will now be sent to the owners of the 36 factories, he said. … Tai Seng SEZ owner Mr. Song Hsin said that most of the factory owners in his facility are Japanese and Taiwanese who have investments in Vietnam, but have factories in the border-hugging SEZ. “Most investors here are considering to withdraw back to Vietnam,” he said. “Even though the wages in Vietnam are higher, the workers there are more friendly,” he added. …
Aun Pheap and Phann Ana
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/special-economic-zone-strike-in-svay-rieng-ends-for-now-49469/
