"Union submits petition to mark labour day", 2 May 2019

The Cambodian Labour Confederation ... handed a petition to Prime Minister Hun Sen urging the government to grant unions more freedoms, such as the freedom to assemble in public, to mark International Labour Day.

A total of 20 points were listed in the petition, calling for the government and the National Assembly to increase the minimum wage for garment and footwear factory workers to $250 per month, expand social security services, improve workplace safety, drop all charges against union leaders and activists, halt the use of short term contracts and create a labour court, among others...

CLC president Ath Thorn, who led union members in a march around the nearby Wat Phnom, said the government needs to pay more attention to the needs of workers...

National Assembly representative Suon Rindy said Mr Hun Sen has already addressed many of the problems listed by CLC.

Additionally, another group rallied at Freedom Park to promote human and labour rights in the Kingdom.

According to the rights group Central, 1,200 workers from across all sectors peacefully gathered at the park to celebrate their contributions to the economy...

Rhona Smith, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Cambodia, who attended both rallies, said the events were an important opportunity to reflect on the right to decent work and an adequate living standard for all workers.

...She noted that she was looking forward to amending the Trade Union Law to be more in favour of workers...