Cambodian worker rights groups have united to call on the government for improvements on worker rights protection. They filed a petition to request for attention on 11 issues that involve employee policies but it has since been refused by the Justice Ministry and Council of Ministers.
According to the Khmer Times, the petition was submitted to Prime Minister Hun Sen and seven other ministries. The ultimate goal of the petition is to help the Cambodian workforce receive the protection they deserve in terms of labor and human rights.
President of the Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation, Ou Tep Phallin, said despite the petition's rejection in higher offices, the group sent copies to business groups in hopes of getting the corporate sector's support.
President of the Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia, Sok Kin, further argued that the construction, footwear and garment sectors still provide poor working conditions for laborers.
Cambodia's construction, footwear, and garment industries account for a huge chunk of the country's overall labor workforce. Unfortunately, protection levels for labor workers are still low.
"According to our survey, the wage for construction workers are still low and the danger levels at work are still high," Kin pointed out. He said there is a grave need for improved working conditions and higher minimum wages for Cambodian laborers.
Phallin and union members are aware of the challenges that come with petitioning for a response from the Cambodian government. On the other hand, she said workers need to stand up to the government will know what issues the workforce is struggling with.
After the petition was sacked by the Justice Ministry, Phallin and other workers rights advocates pledged to come up with other approaches to get the government's attention. However, there is no immediate plan in mind, she explained.
Among the issues presented in the petition include protection for workers who are under Cambodia's informal economy, assistance center for laborers who experience domestic violence, and safe nursery areas for parents who do not have nannies to care for their children.
Meanwhile, some experts weighed in on the issue of minimum wages for construction workers. An op-ed on the Asia Times noted that it takes more than standard minimum wages to fix the problem.
Research Fellow at Phnom Penh-based think tank Future Forum, Tueng Seila wrote on the outlet that "sophisticated policies" are required to improve the working environment for contractors who are faced with uncertainties in the construction industry.
Last year, the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT) said construction heads were asked to develop safety training courses for laborers in a bid to cut down on potential accidents in the workplace.
