Thousands of workers from Taral International Co. Ltd garment factory in Kampong Speu’s Kong Pisey district blocked National Road 3 on Friday morning, demanding better working conditions and occupational safety. After hours of negotiations, some of their demands were met while others remained unresolved.
A live video from the Federation of Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) on Facebook showed thousands of workers blocking the road. The factory, which began operations in November 2023 with an investment of around $25.7 million, exports clothing to the European Union and United States.
Thorn Thun, an FTUWKC official who was present at the protest site, told CamboJA News that the workers’ demonstration— which shut down National Road 3 for more than two hours—stemmed from an earlier dispute on October 2. At the time, workers protested against the termination of about 60 truck drivers, and the factory eventually agreed to renew their contracts.
However, when workers returned to their jobs on Friday morning, they were informed that the factory would deduct a day’s salary for participating in the October 2 protest. In response, nearly 8,000 workers walked out again and blocked the road, demanding the decision be reversed.
During the protest, workers also raised broader grievances, including pay deductions when they were sick despite presenting medical certificates, and wage cuts when factory trucks transporting them broke down, causing late arrivals.
Thun said factory representatives quickly announced they would not deduct salaries for the protest day, but failed to address the other demands. Provincial authorities later intervened and called 30 worker representatives to negotiate with the factory, after which the road was reopened.
Salary deducted
Taral factory worker Kut Nak said he joined the protest for two days, demanding the factory reverse its decision to deduct $8 from workers’ salaries for the strike day when they defended the truck drivers’ contracts.
“No one is happy with this cut. Neither I nor other workers agree,” he said. “The truck drivers’ issue was solved, but the burden has now fallen on us.”
He added that if the dispute was resolved today, workers would be ready to return to work tomorrow.
Another worker, Sareth, told CamboJA News that the factory had been deducting $6 from the wages of workers who arrived “only 11 minutes late”, while those who came before the working hours received no additional benefits. She added that the factory also cut the wages of unwell workers even when they presented a medical certificate from a doctor.
“They deduct from this and that, leaving us with less money,” she said. “Workers keep raising these issues, but the management doesn’t agree. I want them to intervene and solve these problems because we work hard to earn an income, and with all these cuts, it’s becoming difficult to survive.”
For 2026, the minimum monthly wage for workers in the garment, footwear, and travel goods (GFT) sector was increased slightly from $208 to $210. The new rate was decided after negotiations at the Minimum Wage Council, composed of union and employer representatives, who requested the government to make the final decision in light of U.S. tariffs and labor market conditions.
Earlier this week, more than 70 workers from the Bowker Garment Factory in Kandal province also staged a protest, demanding a solution after being terminated without receiving their legal benefits. The factory said the layoffs were due to a lack of purchase orders since May 2025.
Cambodia’s export levy to the U.S. market was recently reduced to 19%, down from earlier rates of 49% and 36%.
‘Won’t harass or retaliate’
Khun Tharo, program manager at the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (Central), told CamboJA News that following a four-hour negotiation meeting involving the workers, Taral factory officials, Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training representatives and local authorities, several agreements were reached.
On the issue of sick leave, workers requested a full day off with a doctor’s prescription, where the factory previously only allowed half day. The factory agreed that sick leave would now depend on the medical certificate provided.
Regarding late arrivals, the company accepted a new arrangement: workers who are late up to 15 minutes per month will not lose their $6 attendance bonus, but if they are late between 15 and 29 minutes, they will forfeit the $6 bonus. Workers who come later than 30 minutes, will have their full $12 bonus deducted.
The factory also agreed to grant position-related bonuses for workers promoted to new roles and promised to address such requests more promptly in the future.
For those who joined the strike, the company agreed to count the day as part of their annual leave and “pledged not to harass or retaliate against workers for their participation”.
However, Tharo noted that the factory has not yet agreed to other demands, such as additional incentive bonuses or providing lunch allowances of 2,000 riels (50 US cents) per worker per day, which will require further discussions.
He added that these issues are linked to additional benefits aimed at easing workers’ economic hardships, some of which are not stipulated under the law. As a result, they require direct negotiations between the company and the workers.
He noted that such matters may not be resolved immediately, as they also need discussion and approval from the factory’s parent company and board of directors.
He added that the meeting concluded in a “harmonious and constructive atmosphere”.
Chhoeun Sok Oeuy, a Taral representative who attended the negotiation meeting, did not respond.
Labor ministry spokesperson Sun Mesa told CamboJA News that together with relevant authorities, they listened to the workers’ and the factory’s requests to help both sides reach a reconciliation.
