Cambodian garment workers strike over pay

About 60,000 workers joined the action at more than 40 factories

Union leader Ath Thun blamed low turnout on employers' threats to sack strikers

Manufacturers warned that the strike will result in a loss of production

By Suy Se

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Tens of thousands of Cambodian garment workers went on strike Monday in the latest mass walkout by employees in Asia who are demanding a bigger share of the region's economic success.

About 60,000 workers seeking higher wages joined the action at more than 40 factories, out of a total of about 470 across the country, said Ath Thun, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation.

"We will continue the strike until there is an appropriate negotiation," he told AFP.

But Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers' Association in Cambodia (GMAC), played down the success of the strike.

He said just 20,000 workers from 19 factories had taken part, seriously affecting production at only around 10 plants.

From Bangladesh to China, workers in several Asian countries have staged walkouts in recent months as they seek better job conditions.

Cambodia's garment industry -- which produces items for renowned brands including Gap, Benetton, Adidas and Puma -- is a key source of foreign income for the country and employs about 345,000 workers.

The strike follows a deal between the government and industry that set the minimum wage for garment and footwear staff at 61 dollars a month.

Unions say the salary is not enough to cover food, housing and travel expenses, and want a base salary of 93 dollars.

They had hoped more than 80,000 workers would join the walkout. Ath Thun said threats by employers to fire strikers were partly to blame for the lower than expected participation.

The manufacturers association described the industrial action as a threat to employers and said the workers were putting their jobs at risk.

"If they want to negotiate, they should not strike... As employers, we cannot respond to threats," Ken said, adding his group was considering whether to take legal action against the unions.

Ken, who dismissed a 93-dollar minimum wage as "impossible", said affected factories had been asked to seek a court injunction declaring the strikes illegal and ordering the workers to return to work within 48 hours.

"If they do not return (to work), the factories have the right to terminate the employment contracts," Ken warned.

At least seven unionists were briefly detained by local authorities for allegedly organising illegal rallies outside some factories, said Kong Athit, another union leader.

One striker, Touch Srey Im, said she earned about 90 dollars a month, including a wage of 50 dollars, bonuses and overtime pay.

"This is not enough for us to survive. The price of goods is going up. We are facing a hard time now," the 32-year-old told AFP.

Manufacturers have warned that the strike will result in a loss of production and a drop in orders from buyers, harming Cambodia's standing among investors.

Cambodia, where more than 30 percent of the country's 14 million people live on less than 50 US cents a day, relies on the garment industry as its largest source of income.

The industry was hit hard last year when the global economic crisis saw exports drop to 2.69 billion dollars, from 3.1 billion dollars in 2008.

But during the first seven months of this year, exports increased 13.4 percent to 1.63 billion dollars, according to Ministry of Commerce.