Police let 20 worker representatives petition Hun Sen

police are preventing workers from marching to Prime Minister Hun Sen's house near independent monument

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Authorities allowed 20 representatives of about 500 factory workers petition Prime Minister Hun Sen Wednesday after they were refused permission to hold a march, sources said.

The sources said the workers, led by Cambodian Confederation of Unions President Rong Chhun, had gathered earlier at Freedom Park where they scuffled with police led by Phnom Penh Police Commissioner Touch Narong.

At a meeting at Phnom Penh City Hall Tuesday, authorities decided to let the confederation present the petition to Hun Sen on behalf of workers at Taiwanese-owned garment factories Tai Yang Enterprises and Camwell Mfg Co.

The workers are seeking at least $305 in annual bonuses from the two companies which are said to have been merged into an affiliate known as Tai Nan (Enterprises) Cambodia Co.

They are also seeking $15 in rental and transport allowances, $15 for milk for mothers who have just delivered and $15 in other bonuses each month.


Some 4,000 workers from the Taiwanese companies in Kandal province attempted to march on Phnom Penh last week but were prevented from entering the capital by police.

Tai Yang Enterprises employs some 3,500 workers to make jeans, pants and shorts. Camwell has about 2,400 workers making the same products.