Cambodia’s senior labor official warned that factory workers are prohibited from staging strikes as the election approaches.
Secretary of State for Social Affairs, Labor and Veteran Affairs Suy Sem read a statement on National Radio on Thursday that any strike staged without attempting to mediate the dispute or reporting the dispute to the ministry’s job-department hotline would be deemed “illegal.”
It was not clear when the ban would end or what punishment would be meted out if workers disobeyed. Ministry officials could not be reached Thursday.
Suy Sem has also asked factories that workers be allowed to take three of their 18 days of annual leave around election day so they can vote.
Factory management are requested to pay workers half their monthly salaries—at minimum $20—by July 25 to help them travel home.
