Cambodian garment factories suffer losses due to labor conflicts

The Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) recently pointed out that a total of 40 worker strikes occurred in Cambodian garment and shoe factories in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 70% compared with 2014, including 18 in January and February. There were 12 cases and 10 cases in March; there were 23 strikes among Cambodian workers in the first quarter of last year.
GMAC stated that all worker strikes were carried out without complying with legal regulations and procedures, such as submitting notices, holding membership votes, submitting to the labor arbitration committee in advance, etc., and all were illegal strikes. In the first quarter of this year, GMAC intervened in nearly 40% of strikes, providing legal advice and coordination to both labor and management, while the rest sought solutions through bilateral negotiations. In addition, about 70% of strikes are initiated by unregistered “foreign trade unions”, highlighting the problem of some trade unions inciting and disrupting factory operations.
Mian Nimin, vice chairman of the Cambodian Labor Arbitration Commission, once said that illegal strikes caused Cambodia to suffer economic losses of 90 million to 120 million US dollars in one year. Minimin pointed out that if a factory with 1,000 workers goes on strike for an entire month, it will cost the factory millions of dollars. In addition, the factory will face huge losses due to fines from buyers because the factory cannot deliver goods on time. Economic losses. The Cambodian Labor Arbitration Commission handles about 200 labor dispute cases every year, and in 2013 it accepted a total of 285 cases. Cambodian garment factories suffer losses due to labor conflicts