Source: Asiaone news
Thursday, Nov 24, 2011
PHNOM PENH - Cambodian garment workers on Thursday cautiously welcomed the announcement of a US$5 (S$6.50) monthly pay increase following a spate of mass faintings in textile factories.
The current minimum wage for the country's garment employees is US$61 (S$79.80) a month, but with overtime most manage to take home around US$90 (S$117.70) to US$100 (S$130.80), according to the International Labour Organisation, a UN agency.
The rise, to be paid by employers in return for the government delaying a planned tax on factory profits, will come into effect from January, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday, adding that the extra money could be used to keep workers healthy.
"We are very happy about this. It will help improve our livelihoods," worker Keo Rany told AFP as she left a factory in the Cambodian capital after her shift.
There have been around a dozen incidents of mass faintings in the Cambodian garment industry this year involving hundreds of workers, including some at plants producing items for well-known brands such as Puma and H&M.
The incidents have most been blamed on workers' poor health, bad ventilation in the workplace or exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Observers say many employees work long hours and skip meals in order to support their families in the impoverished nation.
"Many industry challenges remain," Jill Tucker, chief technical adviser of the ILO's Better Factories Cambodia, said in a statement.
But the government and factory owners "are to be commended for this enlightened move which will contribute to the livelihoods of 400,000 workers and help to sustain up to 1.7 million Cambodians," she said.
Free Trade Union leader Chea Mony told AFP the increase would help cover workers' healthcare costs.
"The US$5 increase is still small, but it is better than getting nothing," he said.
The garment industry is a key source of foreign income for Cambodia.
Thursday, Nov 24, 2011
PHNOM PENH - Cambodian garment workers on Thursday cautiously welcomed the announcement of a US$5 (S$6.50) monthly pay increase following a spate of mass faintings in textile factories.
The current minimum wage for the country's garment employees is US$61 (S$79.80) a month, but with overtime most manage to take home around US$90 (S$117.70) to US$100 (S$130.80), according to the International Labour Organisation, a UN agency.
The rise, to be paid by employers in return for the government delaying a planned tax on factory profits, will come into effect from January, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday, adding that the extra money could be used to keep workers healthy.
"We are very happy about this. It will help improve our livelihoods," worker Keo Rany told AFP as she left a factory in the Cambodian capital after her shift.
There have been around a dozen incidents of mass faintings in the Cambodian garment industry this year involving hundreds of workers, including some at plants producing items for well-known brands such as Puma and H&M.
The incidents have most been blamed on workers' poor health, bad ventilation in the workplace or exposure to dangerous chemicals.
Observers say many employees work long hours and skip meals in order to support their families in the impoverished nation.
"Many industry challenges remain," Jill Tucker, chief technical adviser of the ILO's Better Factories Cambodia, said in a statement.
But the government and factory owners "are to be commended for this enlightened move which will contribute to the livelihoods of 400,000 workers and help to sustain up to 1.7 million Cambodians," she said.
Free Trade Union leader Chea Mony told AFP the increase would help cover workers' healthcare costs.
"The US$5 increase is still small, but it is better than getting nothing," he said.
The garment industry is a key source of foreign income for Cambodia.
No comments:
Post a Comment