Proposed Labor Law Changes Cause Outcry From Unions

The outcry over proposed chan­ges to the Labor Law continues as the Cambodian Trade Union Coor­dination Council—a confederation of 18 local trade unions—on Mon­day asked two ministries and a National Assembly commission to keep the law as it is.

Controversial draft amendments presented by the government in­clude a modification of article 67 of the Labor Law, which deals with the duration of temporary contracts. Unions and international labor groups have expressed concern that the proposed amendment, could lead to workers’ being placed on temporary contracts indefinitely, thereby doing away with the benefits and job security granted by permanent employment.

“We ask that the law remains the same, and if not, to amend the wording to only allow fixed dur­ation employment contracts to add up to two years before a worker becomes a permanent employee,” stated a CTUCC letter sent Mon­day to the ministries of Labor and Social Affairs, as well as the Na­tion­al Assembly commission on public health, social affairs, labor and women’s affairs.

The negative reaction to the amendments by labor groups led to a March 5 meeting between the Labor Ministry, employers and union representatives that resulted in a delay to the amendment until all parties can come to a consensus.

A tripartite task force would be formed by the Labor Ministry to guide all the stakeholders to that consensus, Ministry of Labor Sec­retary of State Oum Mean said earlier this month.

Oum Mean could not be reach­ed for comment Tuesday.

International Labor Organization Technical Adviser John Ritchotte said by telephone Tuesday he was not aware if the task force had been formed and had not heard of any meetings, having been scheduled concerning the amendments.

The CTUCC—which is itself a grouping of three union confederations: the Cambodian Labor Con­fed­eration, the Cambodian Confed­eration of Unions and the Cam­bodia Confederation of Trade Unions—held a meeting Thursday to develop their stance on the proposed amendments as expressed in Monday’s letter, CTUCC Pres­ident Rong Chhun said.

“Even though the existing article [67] is helpful for protecting our union representatives, it is still difficult [to protect them],” Chum Mum Thol, president of the Cam­bodian Confederation of Trade Unions, added Tuesday.

“The new article will authorize employers to fire any workers or representatives who stand up to defend their rights,” he said.

Officials at the Labor Ministry and the Ministry of Social Affairs could not be reached for comment Tuesday.