News
Activists Blame Short Contracts for Strikes
Labor activists at the bi-annual Buyers Forum in Phnom Penh on Thursday said that short-term contracts in Cambodia’s garment industry were fueling the high number of strikes affecting the industry. “Most of [the disputes] are over dismissals or dismissals of union leaders and the reason why ...
Dene-Hern Chen
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/activists-blame-short-contracts-for-strikes-41832/
Another construction worker killed
An 18-year-old man became the third construction worker in three days to be killed on the job after part of a building collapsed on him and three co-workers – including two 15-year-olds – on Monday, police said. Yu Bunrong, from Kampong Cham province’s Koh Sotin district, ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/another-construction-worker-killed
US investors cite corruption as major issue
Though U.S.-owned businesses in Cambodia are optimistic of the country’s economy, its appeal as an investment destination lags behind most of its neighbors due to the perception of endemic corruption, a new survey of 475 senior U.S. business executives in Asean shows. The 2013-14 ASEAN Business ...
Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/us-investors-cite-corruption-as-major-issue-40520/
Cambodian Sommeliers Head to Singapore for Regional Contest
Beer, whisky and strong, home-brewed moonshine have long been Cambodians’ favorite tipples, but with an ever-growing middle class, tastes are changing and if you’re part of the new elite, it is increasingly important to know your Pinot Gris from your Pinot Noir. To help enhance one’s ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cambodian-sommeliers-head-to-singapore-for-regional-contest-40504/
Labour negotiations begin at SL Garment factoy
A meeting between factory management and representatives of more than 5,000 striking workers at one of Asia’s largest garment-processing factories yielded no progress. Ken Loo, secretary-general of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, has called the strike illegal because workers failed to notify the company ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/labour-negotiations-begin-sl-garment-factoy
The scramble to Siem Reap
As Cambodia’s busy tourism season approaches, domestic and regional airlines are scrambling to offer Siem Reap routes in a bid to capitalise on the growing number of visitors to the Angkor Wat gateway. In the past several months, players have entered the fray at a ...
Court draws more into Sabrina case
Eight people allegedly involved in a worker demonstration that devolved into a violent clash with authorities at a Kampong Speu-based Nike supplier have been summonsed to court. Another eight arrested at the scene already await trial. The clash resulted in significant property damage and left ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-draws-more-sabrina-case
Museum for money planned
In January, officials broke ground on the new $4 million headquarters for the Cambodia Securities Exchange. Situated along a northern stretch of Freedom Park, a short skip from Wat Phnom, the French colonial-era building is a suitable home for the two-year-old bourse, which now operates ...
Garment Sector Stable Despite Workers Leaving Jobs
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) yesterday said a recent exodus of workers from factories in Phnom Penh to the provinces over concerns related to a recent military build up in the capital would not threaten stability in the sector. Ken Loo, secretary-general of GMAC, ...
Strike grows as another factory walks
About 1,000 workers at one of Asia’s largest garment-processing factories have joined more than 4,000 who began a strike last week, as union workers demanded the company meet nine conditions, including severing ties with a shareholder. Employees at the SL2 factory of SL Garment Processing (Cambodia) ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/strike-grows-another-factory-walks
Toyota to import used cars
Toyota Cambodia unveiled plans yesterday to add second-hand vehicles to its showroom in response to consumer preference for less expensive cars and a competitive grey market full of unauthorised dealers. Kong Nuon, chairman of Toyota Cambodia, the country’s largest car dealer, said that while demand for ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/toyota-import-used-cars
Funeral payout just ‘sympathy’
The company that paid the funeral costs of two construction workers killed when a fence collapsed on them on Saturday distanced itself yesterday from the accident, saying it doesn’t own the building site. The claim came as Meanchey District Governor Kouch Chamroeun vowed to take action ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funeral-payout-just-%E2%80%98sympathy%E2%80%99
Chinese Arrivals To Cambodia Continue To Grow
Cambodia’s Tourism Ministry said about 231,000 Chinese visited Cambodia in the first six months of the year, up 55 percent over the previous year. Cambodia received 334,000 Chinese visitors in 2012, up 35 percent year-on-year, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry saying in a report. Kong Sopheareak, ...
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v7/wn/newsworld.php?id=970883
Wall collapse kills two construction workers
Two construction workers were crushed to death on Saturday in Phnom Penh when a concrete wall collapsed on them as they were digging a building’s foundation. Boeung Tompun commune police identified the victims as Touch Chorm, 17, from Kandal province’s Ponhea Leu district, and, Yung Yangthor, ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/wall-collapse-kills-two-construction-workers
Feature: Slum dwellers in Cambodian capital want to benefit from development
Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital and largest city, has seen rapid development in the last decade — numerous high-rises, large shopping malls and business centres as well as public parks are beautifying this city — in the meantime, slum-dwellers are also on the rise. According to the ...
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-08/18/c_132641165.htm
Fearing Unrest, Garment Workers Abandon Jobs
Phnom Penh’s garment factories are operating at a greatly reduced capacity as workers return home to the provinces in droves in response to the government’s decision to increase security after the opposition warned they plan to hold mass demonstrations against the election results. Ken Loo, secretary-general ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/fearing-unrest-garment-workers-abandon-jobs-39842/
Two Months After Sentencing, Chhouk Bundith Still at Large
Former Bavet City governor Chhouk Bundith, who was convicted in June of shooting into a crowd of protesters and injuring three garment workers, is still at large avoiding an 18-month prison sentence, the national police spokesman said yesterday. “We have ordered all of our authorities to ...
Car Maker Mazda Opens in Cambodia
Japanese automaker Mazda opened its first showroom in Cambodia on Wednesday, making it the third foreign car company to move into the country since the beginning of the year. “Mazda starts selling in Cambodia from today,” said Chanthan Ngon, general manager of HGB Auto, the company’s ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/car-maker-mazda-opens-in-cambodia-39630/
Workers claim intimidation
About 4,000 employees at one of Asia’s largest garment-processing factories have stopped work, as union workers demand the company sever ties with a shareholder who ordered a military police presence there. Workers at SL Garment Processing (Cambodia) Ltd began demonstrating on Monday, about two weeks after ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/workers-claim-intimidation
Electric car is still on the charger
What happened to Cambodia’s electric car? The short answer is, the wait continues. More than seven months after its owners unveiled the new and improved Angkor EV 2013 to great fanfare, they are chronically short of funding and assembly is taking place in piecemeal fashion. Seang Chan ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/electric-car-still-charger
Factory production sluggish
In the wake of last month’s election, production levels at Cambodian garment factories are still below the norm as lingering fears of political unrest keep workers at home and away from the capital. Shrugged off at the outset as a natural byproduct of the election that ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/factory-production-sluggish
Revenues Down at Pailin’s Dreamworld Casino
U.S.-listed firm Entertainment Gaming Asia’s (EGA) Dreamworld casino in Poipet province has seen revenue drop by almost 18 percent this year, according to financial results released by the company. Results issued on Thursday from Hong Kong said the casino, which opened in May 2012, made revenue ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/revenues-down-at-pailins-dreamworld-casino-39102/
Gaming outfit reports loss
Entertainment Gaming Asia Inc (EGA), a NASDAQ-listed company that supplies NagaWorld Casino with slot machines and operates casinos in Poipet town and Pailin province, reported a net loss of $385,000 from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2013, according to a statement from the ...
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/gaming-outfit-reports-loss
After Deadly Factory Collapse, Safety Improvements Scarce
On May 16, immediately after the ceiling of a shoe factory collapsed in Kompong Speu province, leaving two people dead, promises were made to prosecute those responsible for the tragedy and to conduct a nationwide inspection of all factories. “We will have a committee investigate clearly ...
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/after-deadly-factory-collapse-safety-improvements-scarce-39041/