The Cambodian government has finally gone ahead with the controversial draft union labour law, a move that labour activists fear would curb their power to protect the garment workers, who are the the backbone of the economy.
According to Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union, “The government wants to restrict our rights by creating this law. The law will limit our work… and employers can request for the dissolution of unions or find ways to block unions from protesting.”
Although the government said the law would help regulate the country’s 3,400 trade unions, Unionists and international labour rights groups speculate that the law would dilute the power of labour groups in the sector. The law will affect around 7,000 garment workers of the Cambodia’s US$ 7 billion textile industry.
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The critics have raised concerns over a few provisions of the law that mandate unions to report their finances to the government each year, as well as grant authorities further powers to close down labour groups. The draft law still needs approval by the Senate, but its passage is certain since the Upper House is dominated by the ruling party lawmakers.
The draft union law has been a long-standing issue, with several protests and demonstrations taking place over its passage. It is believed to subjugate the rights of unions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than three decades and tolerates little dissent, has frequently clashed with unions over the issue.
