PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Cambodian garment manufacturers and labor unions have agreed to a US$6 monthly raise for factory workers, averting potential further strikes by employees struggling to make ends meet, officials said Tuesday (1 Apr).
More garment workers had threatened to walk off their jobs this month unless they got a pay raise to keep up with the soaring food prices currently afflicting many poor Cambodians.
Employers and union representatives have been negotiating for weeks on how much to increase average monthly wages of US$50. A breakthrough was found Monday (31 Mar) when the government prodded manufacturers to increase the wage by US$6 to keep workers on their production lines.
Read more at MySinchew (02.04.08)
7 comments:
Raising the wage to six dollars is good for the workers and they can of course be able to deal with the inflation somehow. I am happy to see that, but I am doubtful about the government strategy to cope with this problem. First, the employees demand only five dollars, why the government set six dollars for the factories? Second, while both employers and employees are on the process of negotiation, why the government interven in this ongoing process? It seems that this six dollar decision is not a result of compromise between the three parties, but it is a mandatory rule issued by the government, and it might rob the trust from the investors. Without thinking of the result of six dollars, this is not a smart initiative, but a matter of politics.
According to the news, the original demand for the pay raise is up to US$15.
Well the matter is rather politics and confusing.
I`ve learned that the gov`t reduced one percent of the tax on garment factory in order they make a 6$ pay raise for the workers. And the gov`t may expect to have some benifit from this move as the election is coming.
Infact, Chea Mony a president of Union, demanded only $5 but the factory association said they couldn`t made it more than $4. But after the government intervention, they agree to raise up to $6.
However, Chuon Momthol, another Union president, opposed the wage raise demand by Chea Mony. He said the workers cannot demand for an increase of wage at this time because the factories have just raised the wage around last year.
An initial $15 demand he mentioned in the news actually is one of the $5,$10,$15 step which his union agreed with the factories once in 3or 4 years.
Remember that Chea Mony`s Union and Chuon Momthol`s always appose each other.
I see. Seems that you've got a lot of information + idea. Thanks for sharing here.
hey, it is not monthly raise. it is bonus. it is different for today from the day you post. Ricky
Is it not a monthy raise?
Well, to my knowledge, it is a monthly raise but it is not added up to the minum wage which is around 45$.
i need to learn more about this term and more deeper. hope you don't mind! Ricky
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