Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Men In Black
Cambodia garment workers protest low pay
Encouraged by labor agitation in the region, tens of thousands of workers stage a walkout. It nets only a government proposal to discuss benefits in the future, but organizers call the strike a success.
September 19, 2010
By Brendan Brady
Special to the Los Angeles Times
Reporting from Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Tens of thousands of garment workers staged a walkout in the Cambodian capital in recent days, encouraged by agitation across the region for improved pay and benefits in the low-paying apparel industry.
In Bangladesh, an 80% increase in the monthly minimum wage to $43, still the lowest in the region, didn't stop riots last month by workers who said the raise was not enough.
Cambodia's work stoppage was relatively peaceful, with participants from the industry's overwhelmingly female workforce chanting slogans and occasionally pumping their fists. Work stoppages ended in the middle of last week with a government proposal to discuss workers' benefits at a later date.
September 19, 2010
By Brendan Brady
Special to the Los Angeles Times
Reporting from Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Tens of thousands of garment workers staged a walkout in the Cambodian capital in recent days, encouraged by agitation across the region for improved pay and benefits in the low-paying apparel industry.
In Bangladesh, an 80% increase in the monthly minimum wage to $43, still the lowest in the region, didn't stop riots last month by workers who said the raise was not enough.
Cambodia's work stoppage was relatively peaceful, with participants from the industry's overwhelmingly female workforce chanting slogans and occasionally pumping their fists. Work stoppages ended in the middle of last week with a government proposal to discuss workers' benefits at a later date.
