Many garment workers, rallied across the capital calling for respect for human rights. Many workers and other people gathered outside the parliament building in Phnom Penh. Rally-goers submitted a petition calling on the Government to “halt the use of force and violence against people, rights defenders, and to stop forced evictions”. Hundreds of garment workers who joined the rally also called for higher wages and the factory owners to respect their rights. Last month, Cambodia raised the minimum monthly wage for 2015 for some 650,000 garment workers to US $ 128 after a series of strikes and protests over pay and conditions, but the hike fell short of union demands of US $ 140. “During my time in Cambodia, I have followed the human rights situation closely. There have been some improvements, but there have also been setbacks,” said US Ambassador to Cambodia, William Todd.
