"Ministry workshop to discuss Labour Law amendment", 16 January 2020

The Labour Ministry is set to hold a consultation workshop ... on amending Articles in the decades-old Labour Law.

A total of 50 union, employer and ministry representatives are expected to attend.

..., the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia said it supports amending the law. GMAC said the move would improve working conditions and competitiveness.

GMAC said that amending Articles 144, 162, 300, among others will be discussed, including night-shift and day-shift wages and public holiday policy.

Article 162 states that if a public holiday falls on Sunday, workers will have the following day off.

“GMAC is of the view that the amendment to the Labour Law relating to new articles…is the right reform and at the most suitable time,” it said.

... “In the context of globalisation and dynamic competition at the current international level, the Labour Law, which is more than two decades old, should have some articles amended to increase production capacity and the country’s competitiveness,” the statement said...

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, ... said that despite an $8 wage increase this year, workers lose other benefits such as six days of public holidays, night shift work being reduced from 130 percent to 100 percent, and loss of public holiday which falls on Sunday.

“There are many problems that the ministry has to solve such as providing safe transportation to workers, improving their health, and stop discrimination against unions,” Mr Sina said.