Textile, garment, industry, services, transport, agriculture, construction and informal economy unions and workers submitted an 18-point petition to the government in conjunction with the 76th International Human Rights Day. They urged the government to release Cambodian Tourism and Services Workers Federation (CTSWF) president Morm Rithy, ensure decent working conditions, legal protection and provide National Social Security Fund (NSSF) benefits to workers.
Hundreds of union representatives and workers gathered at the Freedom Park on December 8, 2024 to celebrate the event themed “Freedom of Trade Unions, Association and Social Protection Systems” to raise awareness about human rights and labor rights. They expressed their concerns and offered suggestions to decision-makers and trade union federations.
In the petition, they requested the government to free Morm Rithy and drop his charges, release union member Morm Sreyleak, a union member of Jinbei Group in Preah Sihanouk, and pardon Dul Nareth, who used to work with pharmaceutical manufacturer VE (Cambodia) Ltd.
Kong Soda, Rithy’s wife, told CamboJA News that she hopes her husband will be freed and his charges dropped because he was only speaking on behalf of the union, which protects workers’ rights. “I would like to ask the government to release Rithy so that he can reunite with his family,” Soda said.
The unions also called for the amendment of Articles 13, 50, 58 and 59 of the Trade Union Law to ensure that workers have full rights to join trade unions and the right to strike. The government and the National Assembly were also asked to ratify Convention No. 189 on the “Protection of the Rights of Workers in Domestic Work”, and Convention No. 190 on “Violence and Harassment” to eliminate all gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace.
In addition, the government was asked to expedite the implementation of social security systems in the workplace, strengthen medical and health care services, and expand the registration of NSSF, especially workers in construction and steel sectors, and brick kilns.
Kong Athit, president of Cambodian Confederation of Labour (CLC), said workers’ voice was important to bring issues to the government. Freedom of association, social protection, decent wages and a social security regime should be demanded. As such, Athit called on workers to organize, train and form new unions to send a message to the government.
He said the CLC was a union, like all partners, and remains a true and independent voice which brings workers’ concerns to the government. He urged workers to be patient and understanding for the sake of national unity in the union movement.
“In order to expand social protection without leaving anyone behind, there must be a social safety net. [You all here] please don’t worry that CLC will not raise workers’ concerns to the ministry leadership for consideration,” Athit told the participants at the event.
Demand benefits when economy is growing
Ton Sophorn, national coordinator of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Cambodia, said labor rights are human rights. He observed that over the past three decades, there have been many changes in the organization of trade unions in Cambodia, and there were challenges that need to be addressed.
In a recent conference on the labor sector, Sophorn urged Cambodia to improve coordination, especially registering new unions, to avoid complicated procedures and to create quality unions that are truly representative of protecting the interests and legal rights of workers.
“Cambodia has ratified 10 core conventions, but it has only accepted eight, all of which are human rights,” Sophon said. “We have a challenge because the ILO monitoring system has recommended that Cambodia improve its registration of trade unions to avoid complicated procedures.”
Sophon raised the issue of harassment of trade union leaders for their exercise of trade union rights, stating that some union leaders are still facing criminal charges, which are being investigated by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Justice.
“I would like to confirm that these criminal charges are related to union work, but there are also accusations by employers,” Sophorn said.
Meanwhile, Labor and Vocational Training Minister Heng Sour said the theme of this year’s International Human Rights Day was a common vision shared by the government, which was compiled into a standard of action.
“We welcome workers’ voices. What workers, civil society organizations, and professional organizations want is for their voice to be heard by the government. Therefore, we welcome meetings in public forums, whether in the joint district council or district council of each civil society organization,” he remarked.
Only by making proposals with a genuine willingness to work together can they solve the problems of workers, and improve the economy and exports, he said.
Sour explained that when the economy is growing, it is an opportunity for workers to demand benefits. On the contrary, if the economy is not moving forward, there are obstacles to exports. If there is incorrect information about freedom of association and respect for labor rights in Cambodia, the pressure will affect workers’ motivation to work and impact exports.
“Cambodia is already committed to respecting human rights, to being a country which adheres to democracy, and to be a paradise for professional organizations,” Sour said.
‘Pay salaries regularly’
Garment worker Phem Sumriyada in Kandal province said she wants workers in the garment sector and other sectors to have decent salaries and good working conditions, and not be oppressed by their bosses.
“Having a union is also a good thing. When our boss doesn’t have good rules and regulations, unions help workers a lot. I also want a salary increase that is appropriate for the workforce,” said 18-year-old Sumriyada.
Similarly, another factory worker, Tha Tola, 33, said the working conditions in her workplace were not problematic, but she hopes for a reasonable salary increase to cover daily expenses because of the rise in the price of goods.
“I think the recent [approval] for the rise in salary is not enough. The factory does not need employees to work overtime, but I insist [we be allowed] to work overtime,” Tola shared.
Sek Sreykeo, 29, a sanitation worker in the construction sector, said her main concern is workplace accidents. Although she has not encountered it, she thinks that employees should be registered with the NSSF as it will greatly reduce the burden of medical treatment from workplace accidents.
“I ask employers to provide NSSF to workers and pay their salaries regularly. I hope the ministry and employers will look into workers’ problems,” Sreykeo said.
Separately, Sophon from ILO mentioned that 2.3 million workers are registered in the social protection system, but he wants workers in the informal sector to receive the same social protection.
“I hope that there will be an online platform that can register [them] with NSSF and if possible, I want to see an online registration for unions,” Sophorn said.
