"Thousands of Workers Demand Justice, Fair Wages, and Freedom on Labor Day", 1 May 2025

Thousands of union leaders and workers from various industries and independent trade unions called for continued fight for civil liberties, respect, and fair wages on the 139th International Labor Day celebration, amid claims by Prime Minister Hun Manet that the government remains committed to improving the labor situation in the country, including their benefits…

In a joint statement, the workers highlighted 13 key issues such as short-term contracts, production-based employment pressure, poor working conditions, health risks from factory emissions and extreme heat, gender-based violence and harassment, employer discrimination, lack of childcare facilities at work, and threats of unfair dismissal. They added that retaliation and verbal threats or illegal sacking of staff frequently occurs when employees speak out.

Yang Sophorn, president of the Cambodian Trade Union Confederation (CATU), said although the government pays more attention to the garment sector, it still faces many challenges. These include the suppression of basic freedoms when it comes to organizing unions, harassment by factory owners, dismissal from work, the use of short-term contracts, and arrests of union leaders.

… Vorn Pao, president of Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), observed that workers’ basic freedoms are suppressed, with no response to real social justice. As such, he hopes that the government will solve the problems as a basis for the European Union to return the 20% preferential treatment under the EBA (Everything But Arms) scheme, and negotiate lower tariffs imposed by the US on Cambodia…

According to a report by Global Economy, Cambodia’s labor force consists of approximately 9.23 million workers. It includes about 925,000 workers in the garment, footwear, and travel goods sector; 630,000 in the hotel, tourism, and services sector; and nearly 300,000 in construction…