Tack Fat workers get meeting

Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Workers from the Tack Fat garment factory protest on Monday in front of the Ministry of Labour.

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 15:02 Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Kim Yuthana

A PROTEST by workers from Meanchey district’s Tack Fat garment factory in front of the Ministry of Labour on Monday morning has prompted the ministry to schedule a new meeting between union representatives and factory owners to attempt to broker a solution.

Workers complain that the factory closed unexpectedly on October 8 without offering proper plans to compensate them.

Vayu Vavadhana, chief officer of the litigation office at the Ministry of Labour, said Monday that the decision to schedule new talks was made following the gathering of about 1,000 Tack Fat workers in front of his ministry.

“We will call the workers’ representative and the factory owner to come to the Ministry of Labour on Tuesday to reconcile their conflict,” he said, adding: “If they still disagree, their case will be sent to the Arbitration Council again.”

Meas Samphors, head of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Unions, said Monday that protesters will continue their demonstration until they receive their wages and severance pay.

“We will file a complaint to the court if they still deny our offers in both litigation places at the Ministry of Labour and the Arbitration Council,” he said.

Tack Fat representatives said in October, after their factory’s closure, that they planned to offer workers US$10 per month for the duration of the suspension in production, adding that the suspension would not be permanent.