Strike drags on in Kandal

Photo by: Sovan Philong

Workers strike as a “last resort” outside the Fortune Garment Factory on Monday.

(Post by CAAI News Media)

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 15:02 Mom Kunthear

MORE than 2,000 workers at the Fortune Garment and Woollen Knitting company in Saang district, Kandal province, on Monday continued their strike against poor working conditions.

Lun Simeth, a workers’ representative, said the action, which started on September 22, would continue until the factory owner complied with employees’ demands, which include higher wages, a daily break, paid maternity leave and meals for employees working overtime.

“We didn’t want to strike, but after more than a year of attempted negotiations with not a single thing to show for it, we had no choice,” he said.

Kong Athit, vice president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union, confirmed workers’ demands had been completely ignored by management.

“The factory owners always escape from face-to-face negotiations,” he said.

Owners could not be reached for comment Monday.

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