Strikers at Concept Garment Cambodia Co Ltd Wednesday burned car tires to get the company’s attention.
The fire created dark smoke that blocked the early morning traffic for nearly two hours on Route 2 in Chak Angre Krom Meanchey district where the factory is located, said Chea Vichea, president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Later in the day, about 300 strikers went to the Ministry of Social Affairs where their representatives met with Social Affairs Secretary of State Nin Thot.
“I told them that I sent [on Wednesday] a ministry representative to meet with the owners of the factory,” said Nin Thot, who had received a letter from the strikers on Tuesday.
Nin Thot told the strikers that he would give them a report on Friday. He asked them to return to work in the meantime. Strikers refused.
A company official said strikers are welcome to go back to work. However, the nine union representatives who were fired on June 8, one day after workers began their strike over forced overtime, will not be re-hired, he said.
Strikers said they won’t return to work without their union representatives, alleging abuse on the part of the company.
The Concept Garment facility employs about 900 people.