Garment Workers Banned from Access to Public Forum

On July 25, 2010 Ath Thun, the president of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, organized a public forum in front of the National Assembly. The purpose of the forum was to demand an increase to minimum wage. The government had recently offered an increase to $65 a month, but workers were asking from between $75-$93 so that they could afford a better standard of living.

The forum was originally planned to take place in front Botum Vortey Pagoda in Chanktomuk commune, Daun Penh district with an estimated 5,000 people participating. The municipal authorities however banned the forum on grounds of ‘public order’. The organizers therefore changed the location to in front of the National Assembly.

At around 8:00 AM some 150 workers were standing in different groups in front of the Assembly. Police were deployed on all the nearby streets; such as Sotherearos Boulevard- the way to old National Assembly, and all the way around the new National Assembly office. In addition, they blocked the streets to public. Journalists were not allowed to enter. Police used radio phones to report the situation to senior officials.

Police also banned the access of workers from Choam Chao, Canadia Garment Factory area, Stung Meanchey, Boeung Tumpun and others. As heard on the radio phone of one of police officers, [they reported] approximately 500 workers were traveling on the way from Boeung Tumpun; as mentioned by Ath Thun, about 10 minibuses, which carried workers from Canadia Garment Factory and 10 minibuses from Choam Chao were also intercepted. The streets were eventually re-opened to the public at around 9:00 after UNOHCHR negotiated with Mr. Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Municipal Commissioner, so workers, rights activists and journalists could have access to go closer to the crowd. Little by little the number of workers increased up to 1,000-1,500. Most of them were only allowed to walk in from where they were dropped about 300 meters; some took Tuk Tuk and others took motor taxi. They were only permitted to stay there for one hour to hold the public forum.

In addition to around 100 police officers, 60 to 70 plain clothed police officials were also wandering around. One by one, workers expressed that the amount of money, which had been recently offered, could not sufficiently pay their house renting, food, transportation and other basic needs. They requested their salary be added up to between $75 and $93.