Cambodian unions say strike could last weeks

Workers in Phnom Penh listen to Ath Thorn, president of Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union (Reuters)

Wednesday 15 September 2010
By RFI

Striking Cambodian garment workers estimated in the tens of thousands continued their walkout over wage demands on Wednesday. Unions warned that the stoppage, which began Monday, could go on for weeks if employers ignored their appeals.

Estimates for the number of workers taking part in the strike varied wildly.

Kong Athit, secretary general of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, said more than 190,000 workers at 90 factories had taken part, up from 60,000 on Monday. His estimate was disputed by the Garment Manufacturers' Association in Cambodia (GMAC), which put the figure at just over 30,000.