The president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia said Tuesday the government was not doing enough to protect factory managers and their payrolls after a series of robberies and killings.
“We have asked the government to be more effective [in maintaining] public order,” Van Sou Ieng said. “It should be the government’s duty and responsibility.”
Van Sou Ieng said factories are increasing security measures, but “this is not enough.” He refrained from saying the recent crimes had damaged future foreign investment. So far the only likely repercussions will be higher insurance costs for payrolls, he said.
GMAC last week issued a statement saying it “regretted” the daylight killing of a Chinese garment factory manager and, more recently, a payroll heist that left a bodyguard dead.
“We find these subsequent incidents highly deplorable and hope that due justice would be rendered to the victims following investigations from the authorities. We also urge our members to be more cautious on transfer of funds for payroll,” the statement said.
Jacky Mau, boss of Gennon Cambodia Garment Manufacturing Co Ltd, said Monday that police still have no leads to his company’s stolen payroll, which was taken last week at gunpoint by four men on motorbikes. He said the wages were insured, however, and that he paid his employees several days after the heist.
Mau, who is from Hong Kong, declined to comment on how recent crimes targeting foreign-owned factories could affect future investment in Cambodian garment manufacturing. He did say, though, that he will step up payday security measures. He also said he suspected the heist was an inside job.
While there is talk of armored cars and increased security guards, some members of the manufacturing sector are reluctant to demand government action publicly.
Jimmy Gao, secretary-general of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, last week said, “These kind of cases could happen even in China.”
“I don’t think the government will ignore this kind of case,” Gao said. He added that ethnic Chinese are not being targeted in Cambodia.
A man who identified himself as assistant to Yum Sui Sang, head of the China Hong Kong Macau Business Association, declined to comment on the heists and killings and any consequences they might have.
Meas Sotha, director of Flying Dragon (Cambodia) Garment Co Ltd, said Tuesday he has avoided payday robberies by distributing wages irregularly for the past three years.
The strategy has led to complaints and at least one strike, as workers expected to be paid at a certain time month to month. But Meas Sotha said he continues his practice because he does not trust security in Cambodia. (Additional reporting by Phann Ana)
By Porter Barron
the cambodia daily
The president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia said Tuesday the government was not doing enough to protect factory managers and their payrolls after a series of robberies and killings.
“We have asked the government to be more effective [in maintaining] public order,” Van Sou Ieng said. “It should be the government’s duty and responsibility.”
Van Sou Ieng said factories are increasing security measures, but “this is not enough.” He refrained, however, from saying the recent crimes had damaged future foreign investment. So far the only likely repercussions will be higher insurance costs for payrolls, he said.
GMAC last week issued a statement saying it “regretted” the daylight killing of a Chinese garment factory manager and, more recently, a payroll heist that left a bodyguard dead.
“We find these subsequent incidents highly deplorable and hope that due justice would be rendered to the victims following investigations from the authorities. We also urge our members to be more cautious on transfer of funds for payroll,” the statement said.
Jacky Mau, boss of Gennon Cambodia Garment Manufacturing Co, Ltd, said Monday police still have no leads to his company’s stolen payroll. He said he does not expect the cash, which was taken last week at gunpoint by four men on motorbikes, to be returned. He said that the wages were insured, however, and that he paid his employees several days following the heist.
Mau, who hails from Hong Kong, declined to comment on how recent crimes targeting foreign-owned factories could affect future investment in Cambodian garment manufacturing. He did say, though, that he will step up payday security measures. He also said he suspected the heist was an inside job.
In early March, the robbery of the W&D Cambodia Co, Ltd, payroll was facilitated by the boss’ driver of four years, police said.
While there is talk of armored cars and increased security guards, some members of the manufacturing sector are reluctant to demand government action publicly.
Jimmy Gao, secretary-general of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, last week said, “These kind of cases could happen even in China.”
“I don’t think the government will ignore this kind of case,” Gao said, adding that ethnic Chinese are not being targeted in Cambodia.
A man who identified himself as assistant to Yum Sui Sang, head of the China Hong Kong Macau Business Association, declined to comment on the heists and killings and on any consequences they might have.
Meas Sotha, director of Flying Dragon (Cambodia) Garment Co, Ltd, said Tuesday he has avoided payday robberies by distributing wages irregularly for the past three years. The strategy has led to complaints and at least one strike, as workers expected to be paid at a certain time month to month. But Meas Sotha said he continues his practice because he does not trust security in Cambodia.
