Strike at sportswear factory continues

[PHNOM PENH POST]

About 1,000 workers continued to strike for a sixth consecutive day at the 8 Star Sportswear Ltd yesterday, demanding the company pay workers a US$2 per month attendance incentive fee on top of two concessions already made.

Phim Chamnan, law coordinator for the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said almost all of 8 Star’s workforce had joined the strike at their factory in Meanchey district’s Stung Meanchey commune and had vowed to continue to do so until the company met their final demands.

“The three points that the workers have demanded from the company are an additional $2 more for an attendance incentive and 2,300 riels for food and holiday [leave] for the Khmer New Year from April 12 to 18,” he said.

Nou Mun, administrative director at 8 Star, said yesterday that the attendance incentive was unreasonable on top of the two demands the company had already granted and vowed to take the issue to higher authorities.

“We will take legal measures by sending the case to the Arbitration Council to resolve it for us, and we will respect the decision of the Arbitration Council,” he said.

Workers already received and $8 per month incentive for arriving on time, he said.

He added that workers  and  were creating headaches for the company by making excessive demands.

Heang Sreylin, a 30-year-old employee at 8 Star, warned that strikes would continue indefinitely until they caved in to the final demand.