Phnom Penh Post
Workers from the
Xing Chang Xing garment factory dance and clap during a protest in Phnom
Penh’s Russey Keo district, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Photograph: Vireak
Mai/Phnom Penh Post
A union representative led a 1,000-strong protest at a garment
factory in the capital’s Russey Keo district yesterday, alleging the
company hired a gangster to beat him up on Sunday – a claim the manager
has denied.
Chhim Sam On, a union leader with the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel
Workers’ Democratic Union at the Xing Chang Xing garment factory, told
the Post that a man attacked him with brass knuckles and a cleaver as he
walked alone near the factory.
Sam On said he had heard that someone wanted to kill him for his
union activities and felt certain that the company had hired a gangster
to beat him up for refusing to end the protests.
Yang Jin Sang, the factory manager, denied the accusation, saying it
was “a personal matter between the union leader and people outside and
there is nothing we can do about it”.
He added that his company was willing to meet most of the protesters’
demands, but that some of the workers’ requests, including increased
wages and lunch money, were impossible to adopt.
The workers have said they will continue striking until 16
conditions, including paid sick leave, medical care, lunch money and
better welfare for women, are met.
To contact the reporters on this story: Mom Kunthear at
kunthear.mom@phnompenhpost.com
Stephanie Ip at
newsroom@phnompenhpost.com
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