PHNOM PENH – Six workers’ unions in Cambodia plan to boycott a meeting between the country’s labour ministry today, in opposition to proposed new amendments to labour laws which would see overtime payment rates scrapped.
Authorities have deliberated over the changes since January, when labour minister Ith Sam Heng outlined the proposal, insisting that it could increase productivity and competitiveness and create further jobs – which are in much shorter supply since the pandemic rocked the world.
Still though, a coalition comprising the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Confederation of Cambodian Worker Movement stand against the proposal and say that, whilst they can’t do anything about it, workers will be unhappy.
