Cambodian Garment Workers Rally Against Government

27 December 2013

Several thousand garment workers pressing for higher wages joined opposition activists in protests in Cambodia’s capital on Thursday, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Hun Sen. The protests in Phnom Penh came as the country’s garment manufacturers association recommended that its members stop operations for a week. It cited a fear that demonstrators might damage the factories if workers didn’t come out on strike. The country is home to about 500 factories producing clothes and shoes for foreign brands. The workers are demanding a monthly salary of $160, up from their current minimum of $80. Many of them have been striking for several months.