"PM seeks action on missing wages", 22 February 2018

Prime Minister Hun Sen…suggested that the Ministry of Labour prioritise getting workers any missing wages in cases where owners of factories disappear after going bankrupt.

…Hun Sen said the ministry should seek a budget from the Ministry of Finance to pay workers their dues first, and then move on to chasing the owners and selling off any assets left behind.

The premier’s comments came after more than 1,000 workers from the Yu Da Garment, Yu Fa Garment and S.R.E Garment factories in Por Senchey district recently staged multiple protests when the owner of the factory disappeared.

Wages owed to staff were eventually partly paid after the Labour Ministry worked with unions and workers to sell assets left behind, mostly machinery in the factories, by the owner.

Toun Saren, general secretary of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said he supported the premier’s comments.

…Saren noted that in the recent case of the Yu Fa Garment factory, not all workers agreed to the selling of machinery to cover their wages because the money earned was not enough to pay them in full. They received 65 percent of their missing wages.