About forty public bus drivers who protested over wages at the weekend were told yesterday to work or resign.

The bus drivers claim Phnom Penh City Hall promised them salaries of between $300 and $350 per month beginning in September, but were still paying them only $180. Officials say the workers misunderstood.

Both sides refused to budge yesterday, with a meeting between worker representatives and City Hall officials ending with two worker representatives being fired and the rest being told to accept salaries or leave.

“They did not find a solution for us,” said bus driver Tiet Ret. “They just handed us resignation forms. If we want to work, we were told to stop protesting, accept our salaries as they are or resign.”

Ret and co-worker Chan Thou were accused of inciting the protest and dismissed, Ret said.

Deputy Governor Chreang Sophan said City Hall was not forcing the drivers to work.

“If they do not want their jobs, they can stop,” he said.