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Cambodian gov't approves draft law regulating trade unions

Xinhua, November 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodia's Council of Ministers on Friday approved the controversial draft Trade Union Law, which is designed to protect and enhance the rights and freedoms of trade unions, a spokesman said.

"The passage of draft Trade Union Law was made during a cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen," Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, wrote on his Facebook page.

Labor Minister Ith Samheng said in July that the draft bill aimed to protect and enhance the rights and freedoms of trade unions in Cambodia and to prevent any irregular activities conducted by unionists.

Labor Ministry spokesman Heng Sour said the ministry had spent about eight years to draft the bill, which would govern about 3,400 trade unions operating in the kingdom, particularly in 1,087 garment and footwear factories with some 700,000 workers.

However, the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) said the current version of the draft bill does not take into account many of the employers' concerns, but those of the International Labour Organization and trade unions.

"It will not be able to effectively address the industrial relations problems faced by the private sector. For example, the minimum number required to form a union is set at only 10 persons, resulting in the multiplicity of trade unions with an enterprise," GMAC said in a statement on Thursday.

Under the country's Constitution, the draft law needs to be approved by the National Assembly and finally reviewed by the Senate before being submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni for promulgation. Endit