Hundreds of Workers March Over Unpaid Salaries

More than 200 striking garment workers traveled from Kandal province to the Labor Ministry, National Assembly and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet office on Friday to submit petitions seeking help in obtaining unpaid wages.

The workers from two Chinese-owned Top World garment factories, which make jeans and pants in Kandal’s Kien Svay district, marched through the capital because they were not paid last month, said Sut Siem, a legal officer for the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union.

Around 800 workers at the two factories in Kbal Koh commune have been on strike since Tuesday over the unpaid wages, he said, adding that many workers had not been paid full salaries since June.

“The owner said he hasn’t received any money from the buyer yet, but despite this, the Minister of Labor should put pressure on the owner or send the case to the Arbitration Council to make a decision for the workers,” Mr. Siem said.

After dropping petitions at the three locations, striking garment worker Yem Mom said she hoped the government would intervene on behalf of the workers.

“I came here after the owner told us he has no money, so we want the government to take action,” she said.

Factory representatives could not be reached for comment.

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