Cambodian workers mark Int'l Labor Day

Cambodian workers celebrate International Labor Day in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 1, 2015. Thousands of Cambodian workers on Friday marked the International Labor Day, calling for higher wages and better working conditions, a union leader said. 

Cambodia Herald

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Cambodian workers on Friday marked the International Labor Day, calling for higher wages and better working conditions, a union leader said.

One event held in front of the National Assembly brought together more than 1,000 participants, mostly garment workers, while the other gathering at the Freedom Park saw about 1,000 revelers.

"Workers have still been facing many challenges such as low wages, excessive overtime work, and poor environmental workplaces, " said Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, which organized the event in front of the National Assembly.

"We urge the government and parliament to re-negotiate with the employers in order to raise the minimum wage of 177 U.S. dollars per month for the workers in the garment and textile industry," he said.

The Cambodian Ministry of Labor also organized an event to mark the day with hundreds of participants from various sectors.

In a message to celebrate the day, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government has paid high attention to the implementation of labor conditions, hygiene measures, and labor security.

"Moreover, the government has discussed to raise the minimum wage for workers every year. Practically, the minimum wage for the workers in the garment and footwear sector have been increased to 128 U.S. dollars per month since January this year, up from 100 U. S. dollars," the prime minister said.

The garment and footwear sector, the kingdom's largest foreign currency earner, is comprised of 1,087 factories with some 700,000 workers, mostly females.

According to the prime minister, for civil servants and armed forces, the government is committed to gradually increasing their minimum wages to 250 U.S. dollars per month from 2018.