Retail associations urge talks

Jan 17th at 11:15
17-01-2014 11:15:35+07:00

Retail associations urge talks

Six major retail, footwear and garment industry associations whose members account for over 90 per cent of garment imports in the US and Canada have called on the Cambodian government, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) and unions to resume wage negotiations. The open letter, dated January 15, is addressed to Prime Minister Hun Sen, GMAC general secretary Ken Loo and five of the unions at the centre of the ongoing dispute over the minimum monthly garment salary.

“Our industry is committed to ensuring that all the products that they produce, source and sell are manufactured under lawful and humane conditions,” the letter stated. In addition to urging an immediate resumption of talks, the signatories requested for the creation of a regularly-scheduled wage review mechanism, and call on those involved to “end all violence.”

“These actions will not only promote both the short and long-term health and stability of the Cambodian garment and footwear industries, but these actions will also enable the Cambodian garment and footwear industry to maintain the strong relationships it has with our member companies,” the letter goes on to say.

The six organizations behind the effort are the Retail Council of Canada, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the United States Fashion Industry Association, the Canadian Apparel Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the National Retail Federation.

The letter comes almost a month after unions called a nationwide strike in response to the Labour Advisory Committee’s announcement on December 24 that garment sector wages would rise from $80 to $160 over five years, instead of taking effect immediately. The initial rise for 2014 was set at $95, but was raised to $100 after almost a week of demonstrations.

Anger from the arrests of strikers and activists on January 2 led to a deadly altercation the next day, when authorities responded to furious workers hurling rocks and molotov cocktails beside the Canadia Industrial Park in Phnom Penh by shooting dead at least four.

Sat Samuth, secretary of state at the Ministry of Labour, said he had not seen the letter from retail groups, but said a return to negotiations was not a decision for the ministry.

“It’s not our responsibility now because the government has established a new committee, a national committee, for the minimum wage,” he said, referring to an ad hoc task force headed by deputy prime minister Keat Chhun, announced by the prime minister a week ago. Samuth was unaware when the committee would first convene.

The garment, retail and footwear associations’ call to resume negotiations is in “contradiction to the principles of democracy,” said GMAC general secretary Ken Loo.

“The six unions represent a minority and the majority of workers accept the position of the labour advisory committee,” Loo said.

Though the unions at the centre of the dispute claim to represent more than 200,000 of some 600,000 Cambodian garment workers, Loo questioned their large membership figures.

Organizers of the nationwide strike came together Wednesday at a forum in Phnom Penh, where they said that a peaceful walkout would resume if the government and employees did not return to the negotiating table. Using official documents, they argued that the government’s own research showed workers needed around $160 to live on now, instead of waiting until 2018.

The meeting came a day after Hun Sen said that wages could not reach $160, and that the current offer of $100 was better than what other countries were mandating in the region. Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, said at the forum that as long as there is negotiation, unions could be flexible.

“We can soften our stance; we don’t just stick to $160,” he said.

phnompenh post



NEWS SAME CATEGORY

Slow year for Japanese investment

The Japanese embassy is reporting a $280 million drop in Japanese investment last year, but officials were quick to say that the numbers don't necessarily reflect...

Economic freedom low: report

Economic freedom in Cambodia worsened over the past year, according to the latest report from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in the US.

Vietnam’s investment skyrockets

Political instability has done little to dampen Vietnam’s appetite for investment in Cambodia, the latest figures revealed yesterday by Prime Minister Hun Sen show.

Korean deal gives palm sugar farmers pay day

Palm sugar farmers in Kampong Speu province will soon export their goods to South Korea, the senior officer of a grower’s network said on Monday.

ILO doubts bleak garment outlook

The International Labour Organization (ILO) yesterday cast doubt on the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia’s (GMAC) bleak outlook for the rest of 2014...

Wage fight ‘to wound’ key sector

Garment factories lost out on some $200 million in profits and another $70 million that should have been invested in production since workers walked out on December...

Canadia park, a ghost town

On most Sundays, the wide boulevard separating two rows of some 40 mustard-coloured factories in the Canadia Industrial Park is teeming with people.

Cambodia’s coastal visits up

The number of foreign and local tourists who spent time in Cambodia’s coastal destinations increased in 2013, according to provincial officials in Preah Sihanouk...

Construction on submarine cable yet to begin

Web surfers and social-media addicts will have to hold out longer in the wait for Cambodia to boost its internet speeds, as construction on the Kingdom’s first...

Workers out, deadlines loom

As mass garment strikes enter a second week, fast-approaching buyer deadlines have manufacturers fretting about transport costs and mounting bills.


MOST READ


Back To Top