| English.news.cn 2013-06-04 19:17:12 |
   
 
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PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers
(FTU) warned Tuesday to stage a protest if the authority does not
release its eight members who were arrested by police on Monday during a
demonstration at a Taiwanese-owned garment factory, a union leader
said.
"Three FTU officials and 5 workers at Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment factory in Kampong Speu province were arrested during a pay rise protest on Monday," FTU's president Chea Mony said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
"They did not incite or trigger violence during the demonstration, but police arrested them."
"We urge the authority to free them, or we will hold a non- violence protest to demand their release," said Chea Mony, whose trade union represents about 90,000 garment workers.
Violence broke out on Monday at the factory when garment workers from rival unions clashed with each other, and with riot police.
Since May 21, striking workers at the factory, which makes clothing for U.S. sports brand Nike and employs more than 5,000 people, had held protests The first violence occurred on May 27 and resulted in some injuries to police and workers.
The clashes on Monday led to the arrest of eight union members and several injuries on all sides, the spokesman for the National Military Police Kheng Tito confirmed with Xinhua on Tuesday, adding that the eight people were being detained and questioned at the National Police.
"The trade union should seek legal ways to help them, rather than warning to hold a protest," he said.
"The country has its law. They were arrested for inciting workers to trigger violence and destruction to properties in the factory during the demonstration, we have video clips and photographs as evidences to support our arrest."
"The trade union should not threaten to stage the protest to protect perpetrators, or it will encourage wrong-doers to continue breaking the law," he said.
Garment protests are common in Cambodia in order to demand wage increases and better working conditions. Currently, the monthly minimum wage for a worker is 80 U.S. dollars.
The industry is the country's largest income earner, representing more than 80 percent of the country's exports.
The latest report of the Ministry of Commerce showed that to date, the country has about 500 garment and footwear factories employing some 510,600 workers.
Last year, the country exported those products worth 4.6 billion U.S. dollars mainly to the U.S. and Europe, up 8 percent year-on-year.
"Three FTU officials and 5 workers at Sabrina (Cambodia) Garment factory in Kampong Speu province were arrested during a pay rise protest on Monday," FTU's president Chea Mony said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
"They did not incite or trigger violence during the demonstration, but police arrested them."
"We urge the authority to free them, or we will hold a non- violence protest to demand their release," said Chea Mony, whose trade union represents about 90,000 garment workers.
Violence broke out on Monday at the factory when garment workers from rival unions clashed with each other, and with riot police.
Since May 21, striking workers at the factory, which makes clothing for U.S. sports brand Nike and employs more than 5,000 people, had held protests The first violence occurred on May 27 and resulted in some injuries to police and workers.
The clashes on Monday led to the arrest of eight union members and several injuries on all sides, the spokesman for the National Military Police Kheng Tito confirmed with Xinhua on Tuesday, adding that the eight people were being detained and questioned at the National Police.
"The trade union should seek legal ways to help them, rather than warning to hold a protest," he said.
"The country has its law. They were arrested for inciting workers to trigger violence and destruction to properties in the factory during the demonstration, we have video clips and photographs as evidences to support our arrest."
"The trade union should not threaten to stage the protest to protect perpetrators, or it will encourage wrong-doers to continue breaking the law," he said.
Garment protests are common in Cambodia in order to demand wage increases and better working conditions. Currently, the monthly minimum wage for a worker is 80 U.S. dollars.
The industry is the country's largest income earner, representing more than 80 percent of the country's exports.
The latest report of the Ministry of Commerce showed that to date, the country has about 500 garment and footwear factories employing some 510,600 workers.
Last year, the country exported those products worth 4.6 billion U.S. dollars mainly to the U.S. and Europe, up 8 percent year-on-year.
Editor:
Deng Shasha
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