Striking the right balance

The number of strikes in Cambodia’s garment industry could be set to dip and workers could be on their way to free lunches after both sides of the industry signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday. The MoU – inked by the Garment Manufacturers Association (GMAC) in Cambodia, nine trade-union confederations and one federation – spells out terms on how to resolve industrial disputes, with an emphasis on avoiding strikes. Key points of the document and its annexes are that factories and workers accept Arbitration Council rulings, all parties lobby big brands to fund a food program and that the use of contentious fixed-duration contracts be addressed. …

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012100459107/National-news/unions-factories-deal-to-curb-walkouts.html